Antonelli Tops Sole Zandvoort Practice as Verstappen Reports Dangerous Downshift Problem

Overview

• Kimi Antonelli set the fastest lap of the only 60-minute practice at Zandvoort with a 1:12.949, finishing roughly 0.15 seconds clear of Lando Norris.
• Several drivers ran wide and carried gravel back on track during the session, and Antonelli spun but stayed on the tarmac, reducing the amount of clean data teams could collect.
• Max Verstappen said a recurring downshift fault nearly put him in the wall, a reliability issue teams will have to diagnose before sprint qualifying.
• Temporary lineup changes altered running order, with Liam Lawson drafted into Red Bull to replace the injured Isack Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda stepping into Lawson’s Racing Bulls seat.
• Audi, McLaren and Alpine showed early pace with Oscar Piastri sixth and Nico Hülkenberg seventh, while Alpine ran a significant upgrade on Pierre Gasly that will be watched through the sprint weekend.