The 2024 Dutch Grand Prix is shaping up to be a thrilling three-way fight at the front, with Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull all vying for supremacy. On Friday, Mercedes set the pace over a single lap, while McLaren demonstrated an edge in long-run pace, leaving Red Bull’s Max Verstappen with work to do if he wants to secure a fourth consecutive win at his home race.
In FP2, George Russell topped the timesheets with a 1:10.702, just 0.061 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, while Lewis Hamilton followed closely in third with a time of 1:10.813. Red Bull’s Verstappen was fifth fastest, showing promise but clearly facing a challenge to match his rivals.
Qualifying Simulations Show Mercedes Edge
During the qualifying simulations, the top five drivers were remarkably close, suggesting that Mercedes has a slight advantage. However, McLaren’s upgrades appear to have given them a strong chance, particularly in race trim, where they seem to have the upper hand over Red Bull.
Race Pace Favors McLaren
The most telling aspect of Friday’s running was the long-run pace comparison on the medium and soft tires. On the medium tire, Lando Norris clocked a 10-lap average of 1:15.557, comfortably ahead of Verstappen’s 1:16.131 over seven laps. Even Hamilton, who managed an 8-lap average of 1:16.019, couldn’t match Norris’s pace.
When the teams switched to soft tires, Norris continued to hold an edge over Verstappen, albeit by a smaller margin. Verstappen’s 9-lap average on the softs was 1:15.445, while Norris managed a 5-lap average of 1:15.260.
Mercedes vs. McLaren on Long Runs
McLaren and Mercedes went head-to-head on the soft tire during their longer runs, with George Russell initially quicker than Oscar Piastri. However, Russell’s pace dropped off, while Piastri’s consistency shone through, highlighting McLaren’s potential strength in race conditions. Russell averaged 1:16.012 over 11 laps, while Piastri posted a 10-lap average of 1:16.166.
Red Bull Struggles in the Wind
Red Bull’s RB20 looked difficult to handle in the high winds at Zandvoort, a factor that affected all teams but seemed to impact Verstappen’s performance more than others. Despite this, the Dutchman remains a threat, especially if Red Bull can find more pace in Saturday’s sessions.
Verdict: McLaren Looks Strongest After Day One
After the first day of running at Zandvoort, McLaren appears to be the team to beat, particularly with their strong long-run pace. Mercedes is also in the mix, but Red Bull will need to dig deep to stay in contention. With mixed conditions expected for qualifying, the stage is set for a fascinating battle between these three teams as the weekend progresses.
Photo from McLaren Instagram
