Dutch GP: Lando Norris tops Max Verstappen as Daniel Ricciardo taken to hospital for checks after crash

Lando Norris outpaced world championship leader Max Verstappen to top second practice in Zandvoort on Friday; Daniel Ricciardo taken to hospital after suffering apparent hand injury after crash; watch Dutch GP Qualifying live on Sky Sports F1 at 2pm on Saturday

Lando Norris provided further evidence of McLaren’s resurgence by outpacing Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to top second practice at the Dutch Grand Prix.

The British driver delivered a 1:11.330 in Zandvoort to finish 0.023s clear of world championship leader Verstappen, who had topped Friday’s opening session at his home race.

While Verstappen, who holds a 125-point lead at the top of the drivers’ standings and is chasing a record-equalling ninth successive race victory, appeared to deliver an imperfect lap, Norris’ performance suggests McLaren could be in the hunt for pole on Saturday.

Alex Albon backed up fifth in Practice One by taking an impressive third ahead of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who aside from Norris appears the driver most likely to challenge Verstappen over one lap.

Norris’ rookie team-mate Oscar Piastri was unable to take advantage of the impressive MCL60 after a crash at Turn Four ended his session after just nine minutes.

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Max Verstappen rages over team radio as he comes close to a collision with Nico Hulkenberg in practice two ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix.

Piastri was bizarrely followed into the barrier moments later by AlphaTauri’s Daniel Ricciardo, who was forced to take evasive action having been late in noticing the stricken McLaren, with the double-incident bringing out a red flag.

Ricciardo complained over team radio that he had injured his hand and then struggled to get out of the car. His participation for the remainder of the weekend appears to be in doubt after he was taken to hospital for checks while the session continued.

His team-mate Yuki Tsunoda took fifth ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, with both cars surprisingly outpacing Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, along with several other usual front-runners.

Also further down the order than expected was Fernando Alonso, who could only manage 10th having finished the opening session second in his upgraded Aston Martin.

Ferrari also endured a concerning start to the weekend, with Charles Leclerc 11th and team-mate Carlos Sainz 16th having missed Practice One to allow Robert Shwartzman to fulfil one of the Italian team’s allocated rookie driver sessions.

More to follow…

Sky Sports F1’s live Dutch GP schedule

SATURDAY AUGUST 26
10.15am: Dutch GP Practice Three (session starts 10.30am)
12.10pm: F2 Sprint Race
1.15pm: Dutch GP Qualifying build-up
2pm: Dutch GP Qualifying

SUNDAY AUGUST 27
8.55am: F2 Feature Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Dutch GP build-up
2pm: THE DUTCH GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Dutch GP reaction
5.30pm: Dutch GP highlights

Formula 1 returns after the summer break with the Dutch GP and all sessions will be live on Sky Sports F1 from this Friday. Stream F1 on Sky Sports with NOW for just £26 a month for 12 months. Cancel anytime