F1 practice LIVE: Charles Leclerc fastest in FP2 as Oscar Piastri signs for McLaren
Follow all the reaction to second practice this afternoon at the Dutch Grand Prix after Mercedes went fastest in FP1
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Your support makes all the difference.The Formula 1 season continues after its return in Belgium last week with this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, with Max Verstappen holding a healthy 93-point lead in the World Championship with eight races to go.
The Red Bull star stormed to victory at Spa-Francorchamps at the weekend, winning by a margin of 18 seconds to team-mate Sergio Perez despite starting in P14 due to an engine penalty; Carlos Sainz took the other podium spot as he held off George Russell late on, while Charles Leclerc finished sixth.
Lewis Hamilton retired for the first time this season following a first-lap collision with the Alpine of Fernando Alonso; the Mercedes star admitted responsibility for the incident afterwards and despite Alonso’s “idiot” comment over team radio, the former McLaren duo have since buried the hatchet.
This weekend sees F1 roll into Zandvoort, which returned to the calendar last year when Verstappen comfortably won his home Grand Prix in front of his adoring home fans amid a fever-pitch atmosphere on the Dutch coast. The Mercedes duo of Russell and Hamilton earned Mercedes a one-two in first practice with Sainz third and Verstappen stopping after just 10 minutes due to a transmission issue. Second practice saw Leclerc lead a Ferrari one-two ahead of Sainz, with Hamilton third and Verstappen down in eighth with the news of Oscar Piastri signing for McLaren the main talking point from Friday.
Follow all the action here with The Independent:
F1 practice: Sainz ahead of Verstappen
Just as I finished the last post Carlos Sainz flies over the finish line with a 1:13.412 just 0.053 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen. That was a lap on the medium tyres from Sainz as well.
It’s his last one before pulling into the pits. The Ferrari driver will be pleased with that effort.
F1 practice: Albon also on softs
Alexander Albon is the only other driver currently on soft tyres alongside Max Verstappen. Fernando Alonso has just switched back onto hards and will looking for a lengthy run on the track.
12 minutes into the session and there hasn’t been any improvement on the leading times.
F1 practice: Hamilton’s radio isn’t working
“Radio’s not working again.” says Lewis Hamilton who struggled in the earlier session to hear his race engineers and held up a bunch of other drivers.
F1 practice: Verstappen goes quickest
Max Verstappen’s first quick lap on the soft tyres sees him jump to the top of the leaderboard with a time of 1:13:465.
Carlos Sainz is just +0.079 behind him on the mediums. Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Lando Norris round out the current top five.
F1 practice: Here we go
Right then. What does FP2 have in store for us?
Max Verstappen’s gearbox issues have been solved and he’s pulled into the pit lane to get going in this second practice session. He’s headed out on soft tyres but there’s a mix across the teams.
F1 practice: A slight delay to FP2
FP2 is scheduled to kick off at 3:15pm.
F1 practice: ‘He’s something special'
McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl spoke to Sky Sports about the signing of Oscar Piastri: “He’s something very special, has personality. I think he is a perfect fit into our team - and that should be the main focus of the news.
“We wanted to have him on board, we are very, very happy. We are convinced about his talent. He’s young and full of energy.
“In terms of the contract recognition board, that was never a case for us, so you’ll have to speak to the other party involved as to why they had a case.
“It’s important that now we look to the future.”
F1 practice: Piastri given ‘multi-year’ contract
McLaren Racing has signed 2021 FIA Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri on a multi-year contract to partner Lando Norris from the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship season.
“I’m extremely excited to be making my F1 debut with such a prestigious team as McLaren and I’m very grateful for the opportunity that’s been offered to me.” said Piastri,
“The team has a long tradition of giving young talent a chance, and I’m looking forward to working hard alongside Lando to push the team towards the front of the grid. I’m focused on preparing for my F1 debut in 2023 and starting my F1 career in papaya.”
F1 practice: What to expect in FP2
The second practice session off the Dutch Grand Prix is about to get underway. There’s been a slight delay after the Formula 2 practice overran due to two red flags.
George Russell was the quickest around the track in the first session with Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton second. They’ll be hoping to keep up their pace this afternoon amid an increased threat from Red Bull.
Max Verstappen sat out most of FP1 due to gearbox issues so he’ll be keen to set a good time and get some laps of the track under his belt and Sergio Perez is expected to push harder and move up the leaderboard.
McLaren’s Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo both performed well earlier today and it’ll be interesting to see if they can replicate that form.
F1 practice: Oscar Piastri replaces Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren after rejecting F1 seat at Alpine
McLaren have announced the signing of Alpine reserve driver Oscar Piastri as their driver in Formula 1 for 2023 - after Alpine declared that the Australian would race for them.
A dramatic month has seen Fernando Alonso stun the paddock by signing a “multi-year contract” with Aston Martin from next year, leaving Alpine with a seat to fill to partner Esteban Ocon.
Last year’s F2 champion Piastri was announced as the team’s F1 driver next year in a press release which raised suspicions after it didn’t include any quotes from the 21-year-old himself and, hours later, Piastri insisted this press release had been published “without his permission” and he has “not signed a contract with Alpine for 2023”, adding he will “not be driving for Alpine next year.”
Now Piastri - who is managed by nine-time Grand Prix winner and compatriot Mark Webber - has been announced as a driver for McLaren for 2023 in an announcement made by the Woking-based team, partnering Lando Norris.
Piastri replaces Ricciardo at McLaren after rejecting F1 seat at Alpine
The 2021 Formula 2 champion rejected Alpine’s announcement that he would be their driver in F1 in 2023 and has now taken up a seat at rivals McLaren
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