Second Free Practice Results & Report 2024 Dutch F1 Grand Prix

Event: Dutch Grand Prix
Track: Zandvoort circuit

Weather: dry  21.5°C
Tarmac: dry  31.4°C
Humidity : 62.0%
Wind : 19.0 km/h South

Russell Shines in Chaotic FP2 at the Dutch GP as Hulkenberg Crashes Out

The second practice session of the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort was nothing short of dramatic, with George Russell emerging as the fastest driver amidst a series of incidents and tricky conditions. The session, which followed a wet-dry FP1 dominated by McLaren’s Lando Norris, provided a clearer picture of the pecking order as the track dried out, but it wasn’t without its moments of chaos.

Russell Takes Top Honors

George Russell set the pace in FP2, clocking a 1m10.702s lap in his Mercedes, a time not far off last year’s pole position. The Briton showcased his prowess on the soft tires, managing to keep his car at the top of the timesheets despite the gusty conditions that caught out several drivers throughout the session. Russell’s performance will give Mercedes hope as they look to close the gap to Red Bull and McLaren this weekend.

Hulkenberg’s Early Exit

Nico Hulkenberg’s session ended prematurely after a dramatic spin into the barriers at Turn 1. The Haas driver appeared to lose the rear of his car under braking, potentially exacerbated by the windy conditions that plagued many drivers during the session. The resulting red flag halted proceedings for nearly six minutes as marshals worked to clear the wreckage. Fortunately, Hulkenberg walked away unscathed, but his car sustained significant damage, raising concerns for Haas ahead of the weekend.

Gearbox Woes for Sainz

Carlos Sainz was another driver who faced misfortune in FP2. The Ferrari driver encountered a gearbox issue that forced him into the pits, effectively ending his session. This mechanical failure prevented Sainz from completing any meaningful running on the soft tires, leaving him on the back foot heading into Saturday’s qualifying, where conditions are expected to be wet.

Tense Moments Between Hamilton and Norris

As the session drew to a close, tensions flared between Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris. The two drivers made light contact after the chequered flag as they jostled for track space, a moment that highlighted the competitive edge both are bringing into this weekend. While the contact was minimal and unlikely to have caused any damage, it underscored the fine margins at play at this stage of the season.

Mixed Fortunes for McLaren and Red Bull

McLaren continued their strong showing from FP1, with Oscar Piastri finishing second, just 0.061s behind Russell. Norris, despite the incident with Hamilton, also showed promising pace, ending the session in fourth. Meanwhile, Red Bull had a mixed session, with Max Verstappen opting for longer runs on the medium tires after setting competitive times early on. However, Sergio Perez struggled to match his teammate’s pace, finishing over six-tenths behind Norris.

Unsafe Releases Under Investigation

The session also saw two unsafe releases that caught the attention of the stewards. Zhou Guanyu and Daniel Ricciardo had a close call in the pit lane, as did Alex Albon and Lance Stroll. Both incidents are under investigation, adding another layer of intrigue as teams prepare for what could be a wet and wild qualifying session on Saturday.

Halfway Order

The top 10 order after 30 minutes into this FP2 session was:

1. George Russell 1:10.702 min (S)
2. Oscar Piastri +0.061 sec (S)
3. Lewis Hamilton +0.111 sec (S)
4. Lando Norris +0.259 sec (S)
5. Max Verstappen +0.284 sec (S)
6. Yuki Tsunoda +0.672 sec (S)
7. Fernando Alonso +0.714 sec (S)
8. Kevin Magnussen +0.728 sec (S)
9. Sergio Pérez +0.879 sec (S)
10. Daniel Ricciardo +0.928 sec (S)

Quickest Sector Times

The fastest sector times on Zandvoort during this FP2 were:

• Sector 1: 24.259 sec by Lewis Hamilton with the Mercedes W15.
• Sector 2: 24.945 sec by George Russell with the Mercedes W15.
• Sector 3: 21.330 sec by Oscar Piastri with the McLaren MCL38.

The quickest lap time of last year's FP2 was a 1:11,330 min, set by Lando Norris in the McLaren MCL60.

FP2 Times Table 2024 Dutch GP

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