F1 loses most of first Zandvoort practice after Vettel issue

Lewis Hamilton was fastest in the opening Formula 1 practice session at the Dutch Grand Prix which was curtailed for over half an hour by Sebastian Vettel’s stricken Aston Martin.

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Key moments:

> Vettel’s Aston causes lengthy red flag

> Hamilton 0.097s faster than Verstappen

> Ferrari 3-4 behind the F1 title rivals

> Tsunoda and Ocon spin early in the session

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Zandvoort’s return to the F1 calendar for the first time in 36 years provided a tough test for the field, with the track claiming its first victim just moments into the 60-minute session.

F1 rookie Yuki Tsunoda spun his AlphaTauri while tackling the Turn 10 left-hander, and although he made it back to the garage he didn’t re-join the session.

Easy does it, Yuki!

Tsunoda has a spin in the opening moments of FP1 #DutchGP 🇳🇱 #F1 pic.twitter.com/yqdbzfInBS

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 3, 2021

Alpine’s Esteban Ocon spun at the next corner while Vettel slowed on track soon after, reporting an issue with the MGU-K aboard his Aston Martin before heading into the pits.

Four-time F1 champion Vettel emerged from his pits about 10 minutes later, but he pulled off to the side of the track on the pit exit shortly after, with the engine issue clearly not resolved.

There was great confusion over which fire extinguisher was required to deal with the stricken Aston, meaning the red flag was shown soon after.

Fireman Seb still on shift 🧑‍🚒#DutchGP 🇳🇱 #F1 pic.twitter.com/TrAvdIYJsN

— Formula 1 (@F1) September 3, 2021

There also appeared to be concerns that the car was still ‘live’, with the marshals taking great precaution before removing the Aston from the side of the track.

Over half an hour after the red flag, Vettel’s car was removed, and the session resumed for the final six minutes.

Championship leader Hamilton went fastest in those final six minutes, setting a 1m11.500s to edge his F1 title rival Verstappen by just 0.097s to top FP1.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was just a tenth adrift of Hamilton’s benchmark in third place, with his team-mate Charles Leclerc fourth-fastest.

Valtteri Bottas was fifth-quickest ahead of the Alpine duo of Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon, with Antonio Giovinazzi an impressive eighth for Alfa Romeo.

Lance Stroll was ninth in the Aston while Pierre Gasly rounded out the top 10 for AlphaTauri.

Lando Norris was quickest prior to the red flag but a trip through the gravel in the final sector and a lairy block from Ocon left him down in 11th place at the chequered flag.

Sergio Perez was 1.8s adrift of Hamilton in the second Red Bull, 16th slowest behind the Williams of George Russell.

Practice 1 Results