Andrea Kimi Antonelli went fastest in the only practice session for this weekend’s Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix.
With rain coming down intermittently and forecast across the weekend, teams took different tactics in the practice session. Nico Hulkenberg was one of the first drivers to head out on track and opted for the intermediates.
However, after just a few laps, the rain had stopped, and the Audi driver returned to the pit lane to change onto the slick compound tyre.
The session wasn’t without incident, as Carlos Sainz ran through the gravel, forcing him to head into the pits to check for damage. The Williams driver suffered a snap into Turn 13.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli also had an incident in the first half of the session, spinning on a flying lap; it was a complete 360 for the Italian, who managed to get going again and continue.
Ferrari led early
As the session progressed, Ferrari quickly shot to the top of the timings, with McLaren close behind. Charles Leclerc was leading Lewis Hamilton, but the duo were swapping with each lap.
Sainz ran off the circuit once again, with a lock-up for the Williams driver in Turn 11 which forced him down the escape road. Close behind was Hamilton, who also ran slightly wide on his push lap, kicking up the gravel.
With 15 minutes left in the session, Leclerc led from Hamilton with Antonelli in third.
The home hero of Max Verstappen was down in sixth as he struggled with a snap of oversteer from his Red Bull, which saw him go through the gravel.
In the closing stages, Antonelli found his feet, shooting to the top of the order with the newly upgraded McLaren of Lando Norris close behind. George Russell put together a strong lap, pushing him to third, while the Ferrari duo slipped down to fourth and fifth.
Antonelli’s time of 1:12.949s remained the top time in the session, with Norris and Russell behind.
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