Kimi Antonelli set the pace for Mercedes during first practice at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix on 21 August 2026, finishing 0.121 seconds ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris at Circuit Zandvoort. The championship leader's Mercedes team-mate George Russell completed a strong showing for the team, trailing Antonelli by just 0.004 seconds in third place.
Norris, who claimed victory in the previous race at Hungary before the summer break, was unable to match Antonelli's performance in the opening session. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, currently 50 points behind the 19-year-old Antonelli in the drivers' standings, finished fourth, 0.190 seconds off the pace. Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari and Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren rounded out the top six.
The session took place from 12:30 to 13:30 local time as part of the sprint format weekend at Zandvoort, which condenses the traditional three-practice schedule into a single day of running before sprint qualifying later on Friday.
How is Honda's new engine performing?
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso delivered an encouraging result with the team's new Honda power unit, finishing 12th fastest and 1.562 seconds adrift of the pace. The performance suggests the engine is delivering the 0.3 to 0.5 seconds per lap improvement that Aston Martin had targeted when introducing the new unit, though Honda acknowledges the engine still has ground to make up against the sport's leading power suppliers.
Alonso has been monitoring such progress closely as he weighs whether to continue his career in Formula 1 beyond the end of the season. The signs of advancement from Honda represent a significant factor in his decision-making process regarding his future in the sport.
Which teams brought upgrades to Zandvoort?
Multiple teams arrived at the Dutch circuit with aerodynamic improvements for this weekend. Ferrari introduced a new floor design, hoping to capitalise on the potential they demonstrated in Hungary before losing ground through strategy and operational mistakes. Alpine equipped Pierre Gasly with the team's first major upgrade in some time, while McLaren brought small modifications around the rear bodywork and wing. Aston Martin also introduced a front wing upgrade alongside their new Honda engine.
How did the rest of the field perform?
Nico Hulkenberg in the Audi finished seventh as the quickest driver not running soft tyres, with Alpine's Pierre Gasly eighth. Gabriel Bortoleto in the second Audi and Arvid Lindblad in the Racing Bulls car completed the top ten. Red Bull's Max Verstappen managed only 11th place, while his team-mate Liam Lawson, promoted from Racing Bulls after regular driver Isack Hadjar sustained a wrist injury while boxing, finished 14th.
The session marked the beginning of the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix weekend, which runs from 21 to 23 August. Sprint qualifying is scheduled for 16:30 local time on Friday, with the sprint race on Saturday 22 August and the main Grand Prix on Sunday 23 August.
What happens next?
The weekend continues with sprint qualifying on Friday 21 August at 16:30 local time, followed by the sprint race on Saturday and qualifying for the Grand Prix later that day. The main race takes place on Sunday 23 August 2026.
Key Facts
- Antonelli leads the championship by 50 points over Hamilton
- Norris won the previous race in Hungary before the summer break
- Aston Martin's new Honda engine appears to be delivering the targeted 0.3–0.5 seconds per lap improvement
- Ferrari, Alpine, McLaren and Aston Martin all brought aerodynamic upgrades to Zandvoort
- The Dutch Grand Prix weekend uses a sprint format rather than traditional three-practice structure
