Summary

  • Dutch Grand Prix second practice from 15:00 BST

  • Lando Norris fastest in FP1 at Zandvoort

  • First F1 race since summer break

  • Oscar Piastri leads Norris by nine points in drivers' championship

  • Select audio icon for Sports Extra commentary (UK only)

  • Meet the Orange Army DJ for 'icon' Verstappen

  • Get involved: #bbcf1, f1@bbc.co.uk

Live Reporting

Gary Rose

  1. Harry Benjamin
    BBC F1 Commentator

    There is no rain in sight just yet but we are expecting it to be a mixed weekend.

  2. Abbi Pulling
    F1 Academy champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    One of the biggest challenges of this track is that it's on the beach front surrounded by sand dunes. That means a lot of sand gets thrown on to the track and it's really low grip when that gets thrown on to the circuit.

  3. Almost everyone is out there on medium tyres apart from Yuki Tsunoda, who has opted for the hard compound.

    Max Verstappen has the fastest time at the moment with 1:12.767, half a second quicker than Lewis Hamilton in P2.

  4. Can Verstappen spring a surprise?

    Lorraine McKenna
    BBC Sport Journalist in Zandvoort

    FansBBC Sport

    The general admission part of the track is a grassy sun trap now, with the sun still beating down as people jostle for a decent spot.

    At the final corner, Rob, Suzanna and Yourick are clad in custom orange shirts, the trio regulars at the Zandvoort circuit. Max Verstappen dominated his home track when it first returned to calendar in 2021, winning three in a row from pole. Could he spring a surprise this year after Lando Norris’ dominant win last season?

    “We don’t think so,” the three say together, but there’ll still be a cross of the fingers the four-time world champion can cause an upset on home soil.

  5. Niki Lauda at the 1985 Dutch Grand PrixGetty Images

    Niki Lauda won the Dutch Grand Prix in 1985

    Zandvoort returned to the calendar in 2021 for the first time since 1985.

    This year's race will be the 35th world championship Dutch Grand Prix but next year will be the final race held at at the Zandvoort track.

    Niki Lauda won the 1985 race and since its return Max Verstappen has won his home race three times.

  6. No slow start to the session with a line of cars queuing up to get out onto the circuit.

    Last year's winner Lando Norris is among them.

  7. Go! Go! Go!

    The flags around the circuit are fluttering quite a lot with a fair bit of a breeze as first practice gets under way.

  8. Refreshment station

    Lorraine McKenna
    BBC Sport Journalist in Zandvoort

    HouseBBC Sport

    There are many flats and houses that surround the walk to the circuit and the residents are showing business acumen Lord Sugar would be proud of.

    Unfortunately, the language barrier meant “coffee” was the only word we had in common. But for three euros, it was a steal in today’s economy.

    FansBBC Sport

  9. Listen to first practice live

    First practice gets under way in five minutes and don't forget you can listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and smart speakers.

  10. Breakfast club

    Lorraine McKenna
    BBC Sport Journalist in Zandvoort

    Franco ColapintoBBC Sport

    The paddock was fairly quiet at about 10:40 local time, although I did spy Franco Colapinto having his breakfast up on the Alpine balcony.

    The temperature has increased now and a jumper was a bad choice of clothing. Oscar Piastri, leading the title race by nine points, is also wrapped up for colder climates.

    I confess I did get a picture Piastri and when I sent it my mum, she said we look like “a proud auntie and nephew”.

    Oscar PiastriBBC Sport

  11. In decline or in transition? Hamilton's Ferrari start analysed

    .Getty Images

    Lewis Hamilton left the last race of the first part of the Formula 1 season saying he was looking forward to a break - and acting like he needed one.

    For the most successful driver in the history, it has not been an easy first 14 races with Ferrari.

    The season started with Hamilton full of positivity about his new environment, and a sprint race pole and victory at the second race of the season in China hinted at great promise.

    But reality bit back hard within 24 hours of that success. Both Ferraris were disqualified from the grand prix in Shanghai for technical infringements, having not been on the pace of the McLarens.

    Since then, Hamilton and Ferrari have struggled for competitiveness, and Hamilton ended the first part of the season saying at the Hungarian Grand Prix that he was "just useless" and "drove terribly".

    So what has not been working for Hamilton at Ferrari?

    Andrew Benson has been analysing Hamilton's season so far and you can read his thoughts here.

  12. Soggy start to the weekend

    Lorraine McKenna
    BBC Sport Journalist in Zandvoort

    RainBBC Sport

    Thursday’s media session in Zandvoort was as up and down as you can get in terms of the weather. One minute the warm sun was shining brightly and the next, thunder claps and heavy showers. Drowned rat was the look of the day.

    “I don't think this will be our best track, but there is some weather coming in so that could cause some chaos,” said home hero Max Verstappen, who finished second here last year, more than 20 seconds behind winner Lando Norris in the McLaren.

    The conditions for the Dutch Grand Prix will be the talk of the weekend, as rain is expected for every day of track action. Will it cause Belgium-like delays? Fingers crossed for some blue skies.

    The beach looking sunny at ZandvoortBBC Sport

  13. Norris 'ready to go'

    Andrew Benson
    BBC F1 correspondent

    Lando Norris says he is "ready to go" for what he expects to be "a long, tricky, challenging second part of the season" as Formula 1 resumes after its summer break.

    The Briton trails his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri by nine points heading into this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix with no other driver realistically in the fight.

    Norris has won three of the past four races, riding his luck at times, but dismissed the idea that he had momentum in the championship.

    He said: "The deeper meaning [of momentum] is does it give you more confidence and give you more knowledge and give you a better mindset?

    "Just the fact of having two good races doesn't mean I'm going to have a third good one."

    There are 10 grands prix remaining in the season, which concludes in Abu Dhabi in December.

  14. Choo-choo

    Lorraine McKenna
    BBC Sport Journalist in Zandvoort

    The train to Zandvoort is starting to fill up with fans as the opening day of this Dutch Grand Prix begins. There’s a decent mix of teams represented but the bursts of orange - and dark Red Bull tops - are everywhere.

    I sat next to three lovely Dutch fellas whose conversation I couldn’t follow even if you paid me. The atmosphere is very pleasant thanks to sunny conditions we’ve woken up to.

    How long will the sun last? The rain is forecast later this afternoon, so make the most of it.

    FansBBC Sport

  15. Momentum to continue?

    .Getty Images

    Lando Norris probably could have done without the break given he won the last race - the Hungarian Grand Prix.

    But the good news is the season resumes for him at a circuit he won at last year.

    Friday begins as ever with first practice at 11:30 BST.

  16. We're back!

    .Getty Images

    The summer break is over and Formula 1 is back!

    The first half of the season has been dominated by McLaren, with Oscar Piastri currently topping the drivers' standings with a nine-point lead over Lando Norris.

    Will that dominance continue in the second half of the campaign? And will Norris mount a challenge against his team-mate for the title?

    It all kicks off once more with this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix.