It may be Ferrari’s home race but that didn’t stop the stewards at the Netherlands Grand Prix giving HAM a 5 grid place penalty for this race, as well as 2 penalty points. Meanwhile Williams have requested a review of the decision to give SAI a 10second penalty (which he served during the race) as well as 2 penalty points.
Free Practice
- FP1: HAM (1:20.117), LEC, SAI, VER, ANT
Alex Dunne sat in for PIA, and was held up by BEA
Paul Aron took COL’s Alpine for a spin, and literally spun in the chicane
GAS complained about being blocked by both Williams drivers
ALO cut across the gravel trap, kicking up a lot of dust
HAD also run across a gravel trap but he threw so many stones on to the track there was briefly a red flag so the track could be cleaned
RUS lost power and parked his Mercedes but that caused a red flag so close to the end that FP1 wasn’t restarted - FP2: NOR (1:19.878), LEC, SAI, PIA, HAM
PIA reported his right mirror was cracked, and teammate NOR reported his was came off
NOR’s McLaren hung its tail out coming out of the chicane, putting his rear-left wheel into the gravel but NOR wrangled it back onto the track
HAM ran wide into some gravel, kicking up stones into VER’s path
LEC’s Ferrari danced across the gravel at Ascari
Many drivers ran wide and threw lots of stones onto the track, but ANT went so deep that he beached his Mercedes, causing a red flag - FP3: NOR (1:19.331), LEC, PIA, VER, RUS
LEC had a big snap in Parabolica but fought back
HAM locked up and cut the chicane
VER felt OCO was wrong to pass him into Turn 1, so VER deliberately blocked OCO – that really ought to be a penalty for the brat
SAI, BOR and BEA all cut turn 1
Qualifying
Air temperature 26°C; track 44°C; humidity 35%
Qualifying session 1 (Q1)
GAS 1:20.710
BOR 1:20.349
HUL 1:19.950
(RUS P2 but he’s on medium tyres)
LEC 1:19.801
(HAM P2)
SAI’s lap time deleted
(VER P2)
NOR 1:19.611
(PIA P2)
ALB locks up and cuts Turn 1
(LEC P2)
(ALO P2)
RUS 1:19.414 on mediums
5mins left; bottom 5 are GAS, ANT, COL, OCO, LAW
Radio from OCO, frustrated that they sent him out first
RUS the only one left in the pits
Radio from LEC reporting that his mirror is coming loose
LAW had improved but his lap time was deleted
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are HAD, STR, COL, GAS, LAW
SAI noted for failing to follow Race Director’s instructions
Back of the grid: HAD, STR, COL, GAS, LAW
Radio from HAD, frustrated at not making it to Q2 – probably hurts even more given he was on the podium last weekend
Start of Q2 delayed while the marshals clean up the track – there’s a lot of gravel
Qualifying session 2
SAI 1:20.239
VER 1:19.140
NOR cuts Turn 1, so he’ll abandon that lap
ALB locks up and slides through Turn 1
5mins left; bottom 5 are ALO, OCO, ALB, HUL, NOR
Only SAI and NOR are on track
(NOR P7)
Pit garages empty out for a final run
(OCO P12)
(ALO P7)
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are NOR, HUL, SAI, OCO, ALB
ALB P14
OCO P15
NOR P5, BEA P11
Middle of the grid: BEA, HUL, SAI, ALB, OCO
Top 10 shootout is between VER, ANT, PIA, RUS, NOR, LEC, BOR, ALO, HAM, TSU
Qualifying session 3
NOR 1:19.433
ANT P2
PIA 1:19.056
RUS P2
LEC 1:19.007
ALO P6
HAM P3
TSU P7
VER 1:18.923
BOR P6
Order after the first run: VER, LEC, PIA, HAM, RUS, BOR, NOR, ANT, TSU, ALO
5mins left; everyone’s in the pits for new tyres before their final runs
NOR closely following PIA down the pit lane, making sure no-one gets between them because NOR needs a tow to set a better time
Radio from RUS checking which tyres are on the car (softs) because he wanted mediums
TSU P8
LEC P2
HAM P4
PIA P2
Chequered flag; order is VER, PIA, LEC, HAM, RUS, BOR, NOR, TSU, ANT, ALO
NOR 1:18.869
VER 1:18.792
ALO P8
BOR P7
ANT P7
RUS P6
Front of the grid: VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, HAM, RUS, ANT, BOR, ALO, TSU
Provisional grid: VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, HAM*, RUS, ANT, BOR, ALO, TSU, BEA, HUL, SAI, ALB, OCO, HAD, STR, COL, GAS, LAW (*HAM has a 5-place penalty to be applied)
Penalties
BOR was investigated for passing LAW under yellow flags; no penalty (as BOR’s view of the yellow flag was obscured)
PIA received a reprimand; he entered the fast lane during a red flag period before the re-start of the FP2 session was confirmed
HAD was given a warning; he not use the escape road at Turn 4/5 after missing Turn 4
Race
HAD and GAS had power unit upgrades during parc ferme so they’ll both have to start from the pit lane
Pit lane is open; drivers can make their way to the grid
Grid: VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, RUS, ANT, BOR, ALO, TSU, HAM, BEA, HUL, SAI, ALB, OCO, STR, COL, LAW; HAD and GAS start from the pit lane
Air temperature 26°C; track 44°C; humidity 45%
VER leads everyone away on the formation lap
Everyone starting on medium compound tyres except ALB, OCO, STR, HAD and GAS on hard tyres, and just LAW on softs
Radio for HUL telling him to pit and retire the car; “Are you serious?”
01/53: NOR is forced onto the grass before Turn 1
VER cuts Turn 1
LEC has taken P3 from PIA but the McLaren reclaims the place
Radio for VER telling him to give P1 back to NOR
A few others cut Turn 1
02: VER lets NOR through
LEC has taken P3 from PIA
DRS enabled
Radio from PIA saying VER is “all over the place under braking”
03: NOR, VER, LEC, PIA, RUS, BOR, ALO, HAM, TSU, ANT, BEA, SAI, ALB, OCO, LAW, STR, COL, HAD, GAS
BOR has a look at RUS but backs out
VER has DRS behind NOR
LEC is 2sec back from VER, which will be frustrating PIA
04: VER squeezes past NOR in Turn 1, takes P1
Incident involving HAM gaining an advantage off track (passing TSU) has been noted
05/53: VER, NOR, LEC, PIA, RUS, BOR, ALO, HAM, TSU, ANT
HAM steals P7 from ALO
06: PIA just ahead of LEC before Turn 1 and takes P3 from the Ferrari
07: HAM blasts past BOR for P6
08: VER over 2sec clear of NOR
HAD has a look at COL but has to take to the escape road in Turn 1
09: OCO has been given a 5sec penalty for forcing another driver (STR) off the track
10/53: VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, RUS, HAM, BOR, ALO, TSU, ANT, BEA, SAI, ALB, OCO, LAW, STR, COL, HAD, GAS
11: VER continues to open his lead; he’s now 3sec ahead
LAW pits; switches from soft tyres to hard; rejoins P19
12: RUS has DRS behind HAM
13: BOR has a DRS-train behind him, holding up ALO, TSU, ANT, BEA, SAI, ALB, OCO and STR
15/53: VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, RUS, HAM, BOR, ALO, TSU, ANT, BEA, SAI, ALB, OCO, STR, HAD, COL, GAS, LAW; DNS: HUL
17: LEC dips a wheel in the gravel at second Lesmo (Turn 7)
SAI locks up, cuts Turn 9 but doesn’t go round the bollards so he’ll probably get a 5sec penalty
18: ANT takes P9 from TSU
19: BEA pits from P11; hards go on; rejoins P19
There’s a lot of gravel on the track at Turn 7 – looks like a few people have visited the gravel
20/53: VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, RUS, HAM, BOR, ALO, ANT, TSU
TSU pits; hards; P18
BEA inside TSU to take P18
21: BOR pits; hards; slow stop; P17
ALO pits; hards; P15
23: VER’s lead is now over 6secs, and NOR is 6sec ahead of PIA
BEA close enough to touch LAW in the chicane
25/53: VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, RUS, HAM, ANT, SAI, ALB, OCO
ALO has slowed – suspension failure
ALB passes teammate SAI for P8
26: ALO pits, retires the Aston Martin
Replay shows ALO took a lot of kerb out of Ascari
Half distance
27: Radio for PIA asking if he thinks he can go 15 laps longer before pitting; PIA seems positive
28: RUS pits from P5; hards; P12
Radio for NOR asking about continuing until they can put softs on
Replay of LAW banging wheels with TSU
29: ANT pits from P6; hards; P14
Close-up of VER’s front tyres shows blistering – he’ll have to pit soon
30/53: VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, HAM, ALB, SAI, OCO, STR, HAD, RUS, COL, GAS, ANT, BOR, BEA, TSU, LAW; out: ALO, HUL
Black and white flag for ANT; last warning for exceeding track limits
31: SAI pits from P7; hards; P16
COL locks up into Turn 1; cuts the corner
32: GAS goes ahead of teammate COL, taking P11
33: HAD pits from P9; mediums; P16
34: LEC pits from P4; locks up at the speed trap line; hards; P6
COL pits; hards; P18
35/53: VER, NOR, PIA, HAM, ALB, LEC, OCO*, STR, RUS, GAS, ANT, BOR, BEA, SAI, HAD, TSU, LAW, COL (*penalty to be served)
RUS easily past STR for P8
36: RUS takes P7 from OCO
37: Radio for NOR asking again about soft tyres; NOR wants to do the opposite of VER
Black and white flag for GAS
SAI fills BEA’s mirrors
38: VER pits; hards; P3
39: HAM pits from P4; hards; P9
ANT challenging GAS for P10; takes the place
40/53: NOR, PIA, VER, ALB, LEC, RUS, OCO*, STR, HAM, ANT, GAS, BOR, BEA, SAI, HAD, TSU, LAW, COL; out: ALO, HUL
SAI still harrying BEA for P13
SAI on the outside, tries to cut across into the chicane; contact; both spin; both restart ok
41: HAM takes P8 from STR
BOR takes P11 from GAS
SAI/BEA incident has been noted
42: ALB pits from P4; mediums; P10
HAM takes P6 from OCO
43: VER is 10sec behind PIA but closing
44: ALB and ANT squabble over P9; ALB takes the place
45/53: NOR, PIA, VER, LEC, RUS, HAM, OCO, STR, ALB, ANT
46: PIA pits from P2; softs; P3
ALB/ANT incident noted
BEA given 10sec penalty for causing the collision with SAI
47: NOR pits from P1; long stop; softs; P3 behind PIA
Replay shows a problem with the front-left
Meanwhile radio for PIA tells him he’s free to race NOR
48: Radio for PIA reminding him of Hungary last year so please let NOR pass and then you’re free to race
49: PIA lets NOR take P2
Radio for PIA thanking him and confirming he’s free to race NOR
50/53: VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, RUS, HAM, OCO*, STR, ALB, ANT, BOR, GAS, HAD, SAI, BEA*, TSU, LAW, COL
STR pits from P8; slow stop; softs; P18
GAS pits from P12; softs; P17
51: VER 19sec clear of NOR; PIA is 1.5sec behind NOR
52: OCO pits from P7; serves his penalty; softs; P15
53/53: ANT given 5sec penalty for driving erratically
VER takes the chequered flag
Provisional result: VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, RUS, HAM, ALB, ANT*, BOR, HAD; SAI, BEA*, TSU, LAW, OCO, GAS, COL, STR
DNF: ALO
DNS: HUL
Penalties
ANT’s 5sec penalty drops him to P9; he also received one penalty point
BEA is classified P12 despite his 10sec penalty; he also got 2 penalty points
SAI did not use the escape road at Turn 4/5 after missing Turn 4; he received a reprimand
ALO crossed back into the Pit Exit Road when exiting the pits during the reconnaissance laps (before the start of the race); he was given a warning
STR did the same as his teammate (ALO) and got the same penalty
Result: VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, RUS, HAM, ALB, BOR, ANT, HAD; SAI, BEA, TSU, LAW, OCO, GAS, COL, STR
[2025 calendar and driver line-up]