George Russell Sets the Pace in FP2 as Drivers Face Challenging Conditions: In a tightly contested second practice session for the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, George Russell emerged as the fastest driver, leading McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton. The session, which took place under clearer and drier conditions compared to FP1, saw drivers grappling with gusty winds and a demanding track layout.
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Dutch GP FP2: Early Drama and Red Flags Disrupt
The session began with drivers facing challenges from strong winds, leading to several incidents. Russell experienced a lock-up and a brief trip through the gravel at Turn 8, while Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen also had moments of instability. Nico Hulkenberg, driving for Haas, suffered a major setback when he lost control at Turn 1, hitting the wall and causing a red flag.
Dutch GP FP2: Competitive Times and Final Results
As the session resumed, drivers took advantage of the opportunity to set fast laps on soft tires. Verstappen initially set the fastest time with a 1:10.986, followed closely by Norris with a 1:10.961. Piastri then set a new benchmark at 1:10.763, only for Russell to secure the top spot with a time of 1:10.702. Hamilton also performed strongly, finishing in third place. The top five drivers were covered by just over two-tenths of a second.
Dutch GP FP2: Key Positions and Notable Performances
Fernando Alonso finished as the ‘best of the rest’ in sixth place, 0.371 seconds behind Verstappen. Yuki Tsunoda and Kevin Magnussen followed in seventh and eighth positions, respectively. Charles Leclerc, running alone for Ferrari due to Carlos Sainz’s gearbox issues, ended up ninth, with Alex Albon rounding out the top ten.
Sainz and Hulkenberg struggled with their cars, finishing in 19th and 20th places, respectively. The session was marred by issues for Sainz and Hulkenberg, who faced mechanical and damage-related challenges. The stewards are set to investigate two potential unsafe releases in the pit lane involving Zhou Guanyu and Alex Albon.
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:10.702 | 30 | |
| 2 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:10.763 | +0.061s | 33 |
| 3 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:10.813 | +0.111s | 30 |
| 4 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:10.961 | +0.259s | 34 |
| 5 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:10.986 | +0.284s | 33 |
| 6 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:11.357 | +0.655s | 30 |
| 7 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB Honda RBPT | 1:11.374 | +0.672s | 31 |
| 8 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas Ferrari | 1:11.430 | +0.728s | 33 |
| 9 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:11.443 | +0.741s | 31 |
| 10 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:11.550 | +0.848s | 33 |
| 11 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:11.576 | +0.874s | 31 |
| 12 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:11.581 | +0.879s | 29 |
| 13 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB Honda RBPT | 1:11.630 | +0.928s | 31 |
| 14 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:11.644 | +0.942s | 33 |
| 15 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams Mercedes | 1:11.818 | +1.116s | 32 |
| 16 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:11.934 | +1.232s | 33 |
| 17 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine Renault | 1:12.061 | +1.359s | 33 |
| 18 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:12.206 | +1.504s | 32 |
| 19 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:13.108 | +2.406s | 7 |
| 20 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas Ferrari | 1:13.296 | +2.594s | 10 |
Looking Ahead: FP3 and Qualifying
With FP2 complete, teams and drivers will review their data and make necessary adjustments before the third and final practice session on Saturday morning at 11:30 local time. This will be followed by the crucial qualifying session at 15:00, which will determine the starting grid for the Dutch Grand Prix.
