The World Championship leader suffers a gearbox problem and leaves the way open for the Silver Arrows, with Sainz third and Alonso eighth.
Children and adults, dressed in orange, understood nothing when they saw Max Verstappen stranded on asphalt. Less than 10 minutes, the World Cup leader asked in his home debut, due to a breakdown that left the way clear for the competition. However, it was not Ferrari, from whom much is expected in Zandvoort, but Mercedes, who led the table in the first free practice sessions, with a double of George Russell (1:12.455) and Lewis Hamilton (1:12,695).
Carlos Sainz lasted 20 minutes in the lead with his 1:12.845, almost a tenth ahead of the McLaren of lando norris and more than three on Daniel Ricciardo, before giving prominence to the Silver Arrows. Seven days ago they made their power clear at Spa and this weekend they threaten to usurp second place from Ferrari. Of course, above the rest will follow Verstappen… if there are no more contingencies on the way.
This time, in turn 2, shortly before approaching the famous banked curve, the gearbox broke, from which a component had been removed throughout the morning. Without a gear to engage enough, the champion made to get out of the way, opening up on the outside so as not to get in the way.
Alpine, behind McLaren
The efforts of the marshals and the crane to remove the Red Bull from the line showed the deficiencies of this circuit, narrow and without service roads to facilitate operations. There was no way the car could get to the garage, so Christian Horner I should have given up the session.
The drama for Red Bull could be completed with the swerve of sergio prez at the exit of turn 9. At least the Mexican controlled the car through the meadow to avoid impact with the protections. The Mexican could only finish seventh, just ahead of Fernando Alonso. After the magnificent sensations of the Belgian GP, the Asturian was 1.1 seconds from the head.
“What he has done is very dangerous”
Pending definitive conclusions, Alpine will need almost miraculous solutions before McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes. The first impression was enough to see Russell with great ease to close a great time with 12 minutes to go in the session.
Hamilton, who until then hadn’t even tried the soft ones, attacked right after. With so much momentum that he did not even tremble when closing Sainz before the last straight. “What he has done is very dangerous,” lamented the man from Madrid, with too many kilometers on his tires at the time.
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