Antonelli tops sole practice session in Zandvoort

Yuki Tsunoda returns to Formula 1 after eight months. Photo credits: Formula 1

After the three-week summer shutdown, Formula 1 returns for its 12th round of the season with the paddock heading to Zandvoort for the final race around the circuit.

Crucially, Isack Hadjar fractured his wrist, ruling him out of the race; Liam Lawson once again stepped up to Red Bull to partner Max Verstappen. In the Racing Bulls seat, Yuki Tsunoda returns.

Rain had been hitting the track all morning, meaning the drivers headed out on Intermediate tyres. With only a sole practice session before sprint qualifying, the drivers were quick to gain crucial information before the pole shootout. Oscar Piastri took a gamble and headed out on the medium tyres for his first fast lap of the session; he topped the timing sheets with a 1:23.311.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli headed out onto the track, with the young Italian shooting to the top of the timing sheets with a strong time of 1:16.112. George Russell in the other Mercedes ran his first lap not long after, with the Briton locking in a Mercedes 1-2, four-tenths adrift.

It's been a busy week for Williams Racing with the team announcing both its drivers locked in for 2027. During practice, though, Carlos Sainz narrowly missed a big incident as his FW48 locked up and ran onto the gravel trap. The Spaniard once again ran onto the gravel at the chicane as his front-right also locked up. Later on in the session, he headed into the pits for a front-wing change in the hunt for crucial aerodynamic information.

The Ferraris were showcasing their pace with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton entering the 1:14s and locking out 1-2.

Another piece of news dropped during the summer break, with Verstappen ending rumours about his career as Red Bull announced a four-year contract extension. In what will be his last home race, Verstappen aimed to be on pace and potentially contend for a podium, but his Red Bull was unable to break into the top three.

In the final 10 minutes, Piastri's quickest lap of the session meant he was only four-tenths adrift of Leclerc's top time. But Hamilton quickly eclipsed the time and slotted back into second as both Ferraris quickened their time into the 1:13s.

As the clock counted down the final three minutes, Lando Norris, who had been having a relatively quiet session, jumped to the top of the board with a 1:13.105. The time was eclipsed by Antonelli with a 1:12.949, which brought the session to a close.

The racing action is just getting started as sprint qualifying will take place on Friday afternoon, with both the Ferraris and Mercedes on pace for what will be an exciting shootout for pole.