F1 Dutch Grand Prix practice LIVE: Stream, TV channel, full race schedule as Hamilton breaks down in second practice

F1 DAZZLES AGAIN

F1 received the perfect boost after the Belgian Grand Prix farce with a dazzling opening day of the Dutch Grand Prix, writes BEN HUNT.

After the dreary washout at Spa, with the processional three laps behind the safety car in a crude box-ticking exercise, these were the just scenes the sport needed again.

Over 70,000 orange-clad spectators were illuminated under the sunshine of Zandvoort, as the Dutch Grand Prix was welcomed back to the F1 calendar for the first time since 1985.

F1’s owners Liberty Media have worked hard to secure new races in exotic destinations such as Miami and Saudi Arabia while their ill-fated Vietnam GP, scheduled for last year but cancelled due to the pandemic, looks permanently destined for the dustbin.

It makes the return of this race their first long-term commitment in the post Bernie Ecclestone era – ironic given it was him who axed the Dutch GP, saying in 1985 F1 could “not keep pouring money into the circuit”.

Instead it was the Orange Army who were pouring into the circuit yesterday (FRI) as the weekend got underway.

Platform One of Amsterdam Centraal station was already heaving at 9am, as the Sprinter trains ferried fans to the coastline resort of Zandvoort, with services departing every 10 minutes for the half an hour journey.

On arriving in Zandvoort Am See, the pop-up bars were already selling beers while enterprising children ran stalls selling sweets and soft drinks.

The houses in this small seaside town on the outskirts of Amsterdam were decorated with chequered flags and the streets were full with fans dressed in orange, keen to cheer on their countryman Max Verstappen.

TROUBLE DUTCH PREDICTED FOR BIG GUNS

Sweden’s ex-F1 star Marcus Ericsson is predicting more surprises at the Dutch GP after Ferrari’s one-two in second practice.

Not only did Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz nick the first two spots, they were followed in third by Alpine’s Esteban Ocon.

And Ericsson posted: “The drivers can make a big difference on a track like this.”

MAX’S HAT TRICK

Max Verstappen revved up for his home Dutch GP by unveiling a new helmet.

The Red Bull ace is three points behind F1 Championship leader Lewis Hamilton ahead of Sunday’s race.

FP2: LECLERC GOES FASTEST

Leclerc clocks in a time of 1:10.902, the fastest out of both practice sessions so far.

He’s knocked Ocon off top spot with not long to go.

FP2: VERSTAPPEN GAINING

Dutch driver Verstappen is driving fast in front of his home crowd.

But he falls 0.190s short of Ocon’s quickest time so far with just over ten minutes left in the session.

FP2 – RED FLAG

Another red flag in practice, this time it’s Mazepin whose in the gravel at turn 11.

Ocon has driven the quickest so far.

FP2: HAMILTON DONE FOR THE DAY

Hamilton’s day is OVER!

The Brit has a broken engine it seems and he’s been taken back into the pits.

Bottas and Verstappen are battling it out it seems.

BIG FAN

Former F1 driver Marcus Ericsson is a big fan of the new track at Zandvoort.

He’s branded it ‘old school’.

On Twitter, he said: “Zandvoort looks awesome.

“What a cool track. Proper old school. Flowing corners, high speed, unique kerbs and no asphalt run offs = no margins for errors.

“All the Dutch fans filling the grandstands makes it even better!”

FP2: RED FLAG

Well that lasted long.

This time it’s Hamilton who is ordered to stop after saying he is ‘losing power’.

A huge cheer from the crowd goes up as the Brit comes to a grinding halt.

Better to happen now rather than in qualifying or the race itself.

FP2: HERE WE GO

Right, here we go!

FP2 is underway at Zandvoort, who will go fastest this time? Surely Verstappen will want to take top spot?

Hamilton went fastest in FP1, beating the Dutch title challenge by +0.097.

And hopefully nobody spins out or has engine faults, taking up precious practice time..

No red flags, please!

FP2: HALF AN HOUR TO GO

We’re half an hour away from FP2.

Here’s a reminder of who went fastest in FP1:

1. Hamilton – 1:11.500
2. Verstappen – +0.097
3. Sainz – +0.101
4. Leclerc – +0.123
5. Bottas – +0.238
6. Alonso – +0.658
7. Ocon – +0.731
8. Giovinazzi – +0.859
9. Stroll – +0.931
10. Gasly – +1.015

FP2: ONE HOUR TO GO

FP2 is just under an hour away so stick around for all the latest updates.

Let’s hope there’s not a massive delay like in FP1 and we get a full hour of action!

CLOSE CALL

Norris: “What’s this guy doing? He’s just pushed me off the track!”

STEEP

This photo on board the Mercedes gives you a rough idea how steep the banking is on some of the corners at Zandvoort.

FP1: FULL DETAILS

Tsunoda didn’t manage to clock in any lap time putting him rock bottom

Vettel – whose in 19th – managed to clock in a time, but it’s over four seconds short of the time leader Hamilton set.

FP1: HAMILTON FINISHES TOP

Hamilton finishes top of FP1, followed by Dutch driver and title rival Verstappen.

And Sainz takes third spot…… your top ten are as followed:

1. Hamilton – 1:11.500
2. Verstappen – +0.097
3. Sainz – +0.101
4. Leclerc – +0.123
5. Bottas – +0.238
6. Alonso – +0.658
7. Ocon – +0.731
8. Giovinazzi – +0.859
9. Stroll – +0.931
10. Gasly – +1.015

FP1: HAMILTON TOP

Hamilton is quickest in FP1, edging out team-mate Bottas with a time of 1:11.500.

Verstappen just can’t seem to beat Hamilton’s time and he’s clocked in a time 0.097s behind the Brit. 

FP1: THE CLOCK IS TICKING

The clock is ticking down and there’s just 13 minutes left of FP1, thanks to the delay.

Vettel’s car is being moved by the recovery car so hopefully we can squeeze some more action in with the very little time left.

FP1: HIGH VIZ

It looks as if Vettel has an electrical issue with his car, but the lengthy delay continues.

A man in a high viz, with a voltmeter and a rubber mat is attending to the car.

All drivers are back in the pits whilst the issue gets sorted, but not the best way to start the weekend!

Stay tuned.

FP1: VETTEL IN PITS

Seb Vettel is back in the pits after stopping at the pit exit, leading to a red flag.

But his car, however, is still where he left it ten minutes-plus from when he initially stopped.

Frustrating as it’s holding practice up.

FP1: RED FLAG

Vettel’s engine issues continue as he has engine failure and has pulled over on the pit exit.

Fireman Seb grabs a fire extinguisher and decides to try and put the problem out himself.

Red flag.

FP1: VERSTAPPEN FASTEST

Verstappen is eager to impress on the track as he slashes his own fastest lap time and edges out Bottas by 0.171s.

The Dutch driver clocks in a time of 1:12.850 and is still top.

Hamilton is impressing too, but finds himself down in seventh place at the moment.

FP1: VETTEL EARLY PIT

Vettel appears to have an issue with his car and he’s back into the pits early doors.

Not the best start to the afternoon for the former F1 champion.

Verstappen has gone quickest with a 1:13.045 in front of his home fans at Zandvoort.

FP1: YELLOW FLAG

Three minutes into practice getting underway, AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda spins out.

The driver spun at low speed in the middle of the lap, and luckily didn’t fully go into the gravel.

He was, however, waiting a little while to get back onto the track. As you were!

FP1

Here we go!

FP1 is underway for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.

Max Verstappen will want to win in front of his home crowd on the revamped circuit.

Lewis Hamilton could receive a frosty welcoming, despite the warm weather.