Max Verstappen is immediately the fastest and makes a trip through the gravel trap after the first training | formula 1

Once again this year, the Dutch racing fans ensured that the grandstands on the Zandvoort circuit turned orange before the first free practice session. The atmosphere was friendly and after the Formula 2 drivers had completed their training, it was then time for the real work. The orange crowd wanted to see Max Verstappen in action and got his way early on.

The winner of the past eight grands prix, in Zandvoort Verstappen can equal Sebastian Vettel’s record, took P1 early on and improved several times in the opening phase. That all happened on hard tyres, so not saying much yet. It became much more interesting after the drivers switched to ‘softs’ halfway through training. Although Nico Hülkenberg caused some delay with a slider.

Thus ended Hülkenberg’s training

When the track was released again, Verstappen also continued on ‘red’. Almost immediately he sharpened the fastest time, which at that time was in the name of teammate Sergio Pérez: 1.11.852 for the world champion. Fernando Alonso finally conceded a quarter of a second, Lewis Hamilton just under four tenths. As the weekend progresses, however, it will continue to go faster and faster in the Zandvoort dunes. For comparison: last year was 1.10.342 the time that Verstappen achieved pole position. It was unnecessary to shoot straight into the Hans Ernst Bocht after the flag fell, but this does not seem to have caused the Dutchman too much damage.

Watch Verstappen’s moment