F1 Dutch GP live updates - media day
Follow along for news and updates from the Dutch Grand Prix paddock at Zandvoort
Live Text
We're going to wrap it up here, as that's pretty much all of the sessions done (apart from Carlos Sainz's delayed media duties) in Zandvoort.
We'll catch you tomorrow for FP1 and FP2 - but stick with us across Motorsport.com and Autosport for news, views, analysis, and reaction.
Tomorrow's Dutch GP session times
Free practice 1 starts at 1230 local time and will run until 1330; FP2 will run from 1600-1700. For those in the UK, that's 1130-1230 and 1500-1600, and for those elsewhere...well, please do add the necessary hours on!
It might be damp, so if you're going to Zandvoort tomorrow...take a coat. Or buy a poncho. Cut holes in a bin bag. Do whatever you need to do to stay dry!
Rain falls in the Paddock
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Komatsu on Haas' Fuji TPC running, Toyota partnership
Having worked on getting its testing of previous cars programme (TPC) off the ground with Toyota, Haas ran Super Formula champion Sho Tsuboi at Fuji - and opened the doors to fans to watch. Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu said that, despite the relatively low amount of advertisement of the event, attendance had been good.
"There were just over 3000 each day, so I think we had like 6200 people across two days. I think that was a pretty good, especially like we didn't announce it advertise it much in advance, so we did it in a bit of a rush if you like. I'm glad that so many people turned up.
"I remember standing in front of garage, and I think there was like 50 journalists. There were so many people in front of the garage. Not many drivers have their first running in front of so many fans!"
Komatsu also had talks with Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda, who also attended the event at Fuji.
"He actually helicoptered in from Nagoya for the afternoon just to see how Sho was getting on, what the program looks like, and then have a chat with me.
"I think it's very nice to be able to report back to him, how it's going, get his feedback as well, and then talking about, what kind of things we can do together, but he said that it's really nice to see that something substantial is going on."
Komatsu said that he was impressed by Tsuboi, but reckons "the real test" will be seeing how the Japanese driver gets on in another TPC run at Silverstone later this year.
"We'll run him again in TPC later on this year in Silverstone, but for his very first run, he's a reigning Super Formula champion, so he's done very well, you know, but I kind of expected that. Fuji is his home circuit, he knows every single corner very, very well. So I would have been surprised if he was not on the pace."
"For me the real test is like when we put him out of his comfort zone outside of Japan, a circuit he hasn't raced before, and how quickly can he adapt."
Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal of Haas F1.
Photo by: Peter Fox / Getty Images
Piastri: Drivers still free to go off-piste with strategy after Hungary
McLaren looked set to win the Hungarian Grand Prix with Oscar Piastri, but Lando Norris' choice to take a one-stop rather paid off to bring the title gap down to just nine points.
Piastri, having reflected on it over the summer, said that it's simply a case of the car behind having less to lose in races where track position is more important - and that it would be unfair for McLaren to 'neutralise' that to keep drivers on the same strategy.
"We've spoken about it since then; ultimately there are race situations where being the second car from the team on track, or the last car in the train or the last car in the group, you've got a lot less to lose," Piastri reflected.
"That kind of aspect is, always gonna be there and I think it would be unfair to to neutralise that just because of wanting to be on the same strategy.
"There was, there was discussions about whether there was anything we could have done differently for myself, which were very productive discussions, so you know I think we're still gonna be free to pick alternative strategies if that's what we want.
"But yes, there was definitely some some discussions about how we can tackle that because it's obviously a a difficult thing to try and cover, you know, different strategies, especially when you're in the position we are in the championship."
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Leclerc: Serenity around team "good for stability"
A couple of months ago, Charles Leclerc admitted that the uncertainty over team principal Fred Vasseur's future at the team had been somewhat unsettling - but believes the Frenchman's new contract has helped dull some of the more damaging rumours circulating the team.
"For sure, I mean, I'm sure that this has played an important part in just giving serenity to the team," Leclerc said.
"Obviously when there are these kind of rumours as a team, you're always trying to be completely unemotional and not being attached to these kind of rumours and just to not listen to them. But I'm sure that it has some kind of influences when there are these kind of things in the air.
"It was good [that Vasseur was given a new contract] and I think it's great for the stabilityof the team. And Fred is great, has a very clear vision on what he wants to achieve and we are both super aligned - and not only us but the whole team. We're going in the right direction."
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Photo by: Ferrari
Hamilton: Ferrari "going in the right direction"
Perhaps having needed the summer break to unwind more than most, Lewis Hamilton seemed more upbeat in his preview of the final 10 races of the season.
He spoke of the team needed to keep unlocking pace and uncovering potential from its new rear suspension package, and that he hoped Ferrari could hit the ground running post-summer break.
"I think we've made a lot of progress and I think we are going in the right direction. The new components that came at Spa, I think we've started to be able to fine tune them and we're still extracting bit by bit, race by race, we're starting to extract more from them. I'm hoping this weekend maybe [we find] more.
On turning around his season: "I feel determined and motivated to, yes. We're going to work hard, keep our heads down, try to change a few things in our approach, and start to enjoy ourselves - there's been so much pressure in this first half of the season, it's not been the most enjoyable.
"I think just remembering that we love what we do, we're all in this together, and I'm trying to have some fun."
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images
Tsunoda: Team understands spec differences, but "I have to show more" to keep Red Bull drive
Yuki Tsunoda spent much of the season running a few upgrades behind Max Verstappen, before getting an updated floor for the Belgian Grand Prix. He says that Red Bull now understands the time loss between his car and Verstappen's due to the differences in spec.
Although Tsunoda has generally been closer to Verstappen on pace, he accepts that he can't simply rely on pace differentials to prove his worthiness of staying at the team into 2026.
"I mean I definitely, have to show more, but actually the last two races, before summer break that helps a little bit. Probably [the team] didn't recognise how much the difference we had between me and Max in terms of the package differences.
"As soon as I [got the newer floor] my pace, suddenly improved. In Hungary, the difference between me and Max was very small, since practice, and that shows that actually 'hold on, maybe there's some potential'.
"I think I just keep what I'm doing, but also at the same time I still have to put it all together throughout the weekend. You can't just rely on the pace; I need to score points."
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Photo by: Guido De Bortoli
Antonelli on Mercedes' suspension switchback: "The confidence came back"
Kimi Antonelli says that his 10th place in Hungary before the summer didn't show the whole story, and that he felt much more potential in the car thanks to the rollback on the rear suspension package.
Mercedes decided to change back to the W16's original rear suspension package, as the drivers found it a much more difficult car to work with.
"In that moment it was hard to change the car that much in order to help me, it was more about me trying to change the driving style. The team was very aware of my problems and especially because I was struggling to express my driving.
"But it was really hard to make a change in order to help me because it was, was impossible basically. Since we went back on the old suspension, all of a sudden the confidence came back. I was really happy for that in Hungary even though the result didn't show the real potential.
"I think feeling wise I was much happier because I was finally finding the confidence back in the car, and hopefully the second part of the season is just going to be a constant growth and we'll be able to achieve great results."
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images
Dutch GP tyre compounds
For this year's Dutch Grand Prix, F1 tyre supplier Pirelli has opted to bring the C2, C3, and C4 tyre to Zandvoort - a grade softer for each compound compared to last year.
Pitstops will also be quicker thanks to the increase in the pitlane speed limit to 80kph (up from 60kph), although Pirelli predicts a one-stop affair ahead of the weekend.
Russell on "positive" contract talks, "no time pressure"
Now that the summer's over, George Russell says that he and Mercedes have sat down over a fresh deal for 2026 - but says the nature of not needing to feel pressured and tying up loose ends are contributing to the length of the talks.
"We're in positive talks at the moment. As I said, nothing was going to happen during the summer break because from both of our sides there was no reason for it to happen. We wanted to ultimately enjoy the short time we had off, but things are moving in the right direction.
"Hopefully in due course, but as I said before the break, we need to make sure it's right. There isn't any time pressure from my side. There's no time pressure from the team's side, so it may take longer than ordinarily, but there's no need for you guys to read any more into that than than the reality.
"It's just juggling a lot of priorities between on track performance, development of 2026, sponsorship events, and getting back in shape training wise and then of course doing the contract, it's not like the world stops just to sort it."
George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Hadjar vows to "keep exploring" in debut year
Isack Hadjar was up front about needing to improve over the final 10 races of the year, as he scored only one point in the past five rounds - coming with eighth in the Spa sprint race.
"Nothing really [needs to change with the car], because Liam scored eight points in the last two races, so the car is working well," Hadjar said.
"It's just about not making mistakes. Raw pace in the last weekends was very strong for me, there was a bit of reliability included, but I need to do a better job.
"To be honest, my goal is to keep exploring, keep trying things, I am not here to play it safe. I am trying stuff and learn as much as I can. That means mistakes - it's normal, I'm a rookie. And I'm enjoying it."
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
Photo by: Jayce Illman / Getty Images
Albon on "bogey" Zandvoort form
Alex Albon spoke about Williams' form around Zandvoort - he qualified fourth in 2023 at the circuit, and eighth last year before receiving a disqualification.
"It's an interesting track for us, it's a bit of a bogey track. It doesn't necessarily suit our car but every time we come here we seem to be okay," he said.
"I think the wind comes from one place and that place is quite beneficial for our car. And we're quite good at wet/slick transitional races."
James Vowles, Alex Albon, Williams Racing at the Blue Angels
Photo by: Williams
Second press conference under way
Lando Norris rocked up late to his session with Alex Albon and Isack Hadjar; after the inevitable golf questions, he's ready to go for a "long, tricky, and challenging part of the season" as he battles for the title.
"It's all about the championship and it's doing it race-by-race. I want to make my life easy but it's not that simple. We expect a good battle between Oscar and myself, and that's the one I'm most looking forward to."
Norris spoke about last year's dominant streak at Zandvoort, where he secured a decisive win over Max Verstappen - and whether it was repeatable.
"Of course, we've as a team we've been stronger this year. But I feel like others have caught up a little bit over the last couple of races. In a way I don't expect to win by 20 seconds but I would love it to be the case."
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
Bortoleto sad not to see Drugovich at Cadillac
Gabriel Bortoleto has his say on Cadillac's driver line-up, and it sounds like he doesn't entirely agree with the decision made to sign two experienced drivers over Felipe Drugovich.
"It's a big company and they have their goals. It's not up to me to judge anyone's decision," he said.
"But Felipe is a great friend of mine and I feel like he deserves a chance at F1, it's not over and maybe he gets his short. Everyone who wins F2 should have a chance, but it's a big company and they have their reasons."
Bearman added: "There are a lot of people on this grid who have the talent to show what they can do. Felipe is one of them. But if I was at the top of an F1 team coming in, I would do exactly the same.
Felipe Drugovich, Aston Martin F1 Team
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Verstappen on Zandvoort's departure next year
This will be the penultimate year of the Dutch Grand Prix - Zandvoort will host its last F1 race in 2026 having chosen not to renew its contract.
Verstappen was asked whether he'd prefer something with a bit more heritage to potentially replace it.
"As long as it's not another street circuit then I'm happy!" he said. "It's a shame, but what can you do - I'm proud that I've had a home grand prix for a few years.
"We've got to make the most of it for a couple more years. And it's a great track to drive out of F1, so I'll be back."
In other Dutch things, Ollie Bearman explained his appreciation for hagelslag - chocolate sprinkles on bread. Think Australia's fairy bread.
Aerial photograph of the Circuit Zandvoort
Photo by: Robin Van Lonkhuijsen /ANP / AFP via Getty Images
Verstappen happy to see Perez back in F1, addresses Palou rumours
Max Verstappen shared his reaction when he found out the Cadillac news - where his ex-team-mate Sergio Perez will race next year.
"When I heard the news I dropped him a message, I'm happy to see him back and he's a great guy."
"I'm happy to see him back on the grid, how he's gonna perform will depend on how the car is."
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Verstappen also offered Bortoleto a bit of advice on dealing with Zandvoort's Turn 3 ("low line isn't possible, the apex is too flat") before responding to a question about the rumours linking IndyCar champion Alex Palou to Red Bull (which everyone involved, so far, has refuted).
"I know Alex from karting times, and what he's achieving in IndyCar is impressive. But it's impossible to know how he'd do in F1, and it's the same the other way round - how would we do in IndyCar? For me it's a waste of time to debate that, but it's great to see what he's doing in IndyCar."
Press conference: Verstappen, Bortoleto, and Bearman first
We've got our first batch of drivers up, giving Tom Clarkson their holiday stories. Norris, Hadjar, and Albon will form the second group.
We were partly hoping that Bearman had been back to Sweden to try and reclaim his rental kart record, but it appears he hasn't even considered it...
Colapinto hoping familiar circuits will bring improved form
Last year's Dutch GP ended up offering Franco Colapinto his chance to step up to F1 when Logan Sargeant spectacularly dropped his Williams FW46 in practice - which was the straw that broke the camel's back.
The Argentine showed up well in his first splash in F1 with the team, but this year has been anything but straightforward.
He says that knowing the next few circuits in an F1 car (after Zandvoort) should offer more confidence, although reckons he's been closer to Gasly of late.
"Definitely it's gonna feel a bit easier to go into these tracks knowing the tracks and knowing a bit how it works," Colapinto said.
"Last year was a bit of a shock, went to Baku with no prep and going to Singapore with no prep either and, going to all these new tracks, sprint races in Austin, not knowing any, any of the tracks, not knowing the car and it did feel like something very straightforward.
"This year I'm lacking a bit of that but hopefully going into tracks that I already raced at last year, it does bring me some performance and confidence with the car and it hopefully does bring me what I'm lacking a little bit this year."
Colapinto on his gap to Gasly: "I think in general the last few rounds have been better in terms of performance at least compared to Pierre, that was something that we've been working hard on and we found that so I think that's always good news."
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images
Gasly on Alpine progress: Brighter than it looks
Pierre Gasly spoke about Alpine's progress behind closed doors, as it has effectively sacrificed this season for a good start to next year's regulations. The team has dropped to the bottom of the constructors' championship, and Gasly says the team must make the most of the extra wind tunnel time.
"On paper we are the team with the most wind tunnel time, compared to any other team, so that's already an advantage which we need to utilise as best as we can.
"But from what I'm seeing back at the factory, the whole team is aware of what we missed this year. We are aware of the gap that we currently have, and able to really estimate how much is coming from what area and what area of the cars.
"When you put everything together and the solutions that we have that we can implement from this year but focusing on next season, I think things are looking a lot brighter than they are when you look at the current position in the standings."
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
2026 F1 driver market: what's next?
Now that Cadillac is signed, sealed, and due to be delivered in 2026, there's not that much left to be filled.
Mercedes is expected to extend the deals of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, and Red Bull is subject to further shuffling depending on how Yuki Tsunoda gets on in the final part of this season. And then there's Alpine...
Stuart "Codders" Codling has the lowdown:
Ocon: Easier for Perez/Bottas to jump back in with new regs
Esteban Ocon is another driver who took a year out of F1, having been bumped out of his Force India seat by Lance Stroll at the end of 2018. Ocon spent a year in a Mercedes reserve role before returning to the grid with Renault in 2020.
He said he was pleased to see Perez and Bottas return with Cadillac, and that it would be easier to do so with the new regulations, as everyone starts from the same point.
"Familiar faces, drivers I've been racing with for my whole career, pretty much. It's great to see Checo back; I was teaming up with him for, for two years, so it's great to see him back on the grid and Valtteri, I think both of them deserve to be there."
On drivers making a comeback in 2026: "[A comeback] is not easy for sure, but I think with such a level of experience, it shouldn't take them too long to get back up to speed they've had hundreds of races.
"They know how a team works. They know how Formula One works. Also, we are going to have much more testing before we get back to racing with a new era of cars. Everybody's going to learn and that's going to be easier for the guys coming back than normal, than if you just take the train while it's still moving."
Sergio Perez, Racing Point Force India, and Esteban Ocon, Racing Point Force India
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Thursday's Zandvoort gallery
Want to keep up with today's pick of images? Click here, and check out images just like those below!
Aerial photograph of the Circuit Zandvoort
Photo by: Robin Van Lonkhuijsen /ANP / AFP via Getty Images
Lawson back to where it all began in 2023
At Zandvoort, Liam Lawson will return to where he made his F1 debut - when he was a last-minute replacement for the injured Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri back in 2023.
The Kiwi was thrust into the seat on the Saturday of that weekend, when Ricciardo fractured his hand while trying to evade Oscar Piastri's stopped McLaren at Turn 3. Asked if he had good memories, Lawson was honest to say that in retrospect, he didn't enjoy that weekend much.
"You know, it's funny because I don't think it's good memories because...well, my memories of that weekend, most of them were just fear and pressure. Yeah, it was it was just a very tough weekend.
"I was very relieved to get through it and I learned a lot from it going into the next few races that I had, but it wasn't a fun weekend.
"It was so chaotic, qualifying was very tricky. The race [which was wet] was, you know, even trickier, so it was very much survival, trying to learn everything I could. There was, I remember there was probably 20 laps in there that it dried up and I got into a rhythm, and I enjoyed that.
"And then it rained again and it was a red flag and, and, so it wasn't a super enjoyable experience."
Liam Lawson, AlphaTauri AT04
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Hulkenberg: Good for Perez to 'disconnect' ahead of 2026 return
There will be those wondering if Sergio Perez (and, to a degree, Valtteri Bottas) will require time to get up to speed in 2026 after a year out of F1.
Nico Hulkenberg was posed that question, given he had three full seasons away from F1 (barring a handful of substitute outings in his Aston reserve role).
"I obviously had quite a lot of time out, three years instead of one. I think it all depends how competitive their package will be also, it's all linked to that. But I think it's probably positive and refreshing for him to disconnect and to watch it all with some good distance from the comfort of your couch at home.
"It's quite an interesting experience, so I'm sure it was good for him and that he feels - well I know that he feels charged and still ready to go."
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing, Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team, on stage
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Dutch Grand Prix winner's trophy
For those of you who like a more traditional spin on a trophy (the Herend trophies at the Hungarian GP come to mind), the Dutch GP has a Delft Blue cup for this year's winner - complete with embossed Dutch lion.
And here it is!
Sainz of a diversion
Carlos Sainz was due to be next up to speak to the media after Hulkenberg, but the Spaniard is stuck in a little bit of traffic so he'll be up later.
Of course, anyone attending the Dutch GP in a non-work capacity has to arrive either by foot, bike, or train - which makes the traffic difficulties even more odd!
Or, as Yuki would put it: traffic paradise.
What happened in F1 this summer?
For three weeks, nothing, which is why I put this together for Autosport. We knew a Cadillac announcement was coming, as hinted at in the piece, but it was hardly the sort of hubbub to keep you sated over the break.
Then, of course, Caddy announced that Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas would drive for it in 2026 - cementing an incredibly pragmatic line-up. It's what 99% of people playing the F1 Manager game would do with a new team.
Summer's over: F1 is back!
Hello everyone, and thank you for joining us! The Dutch Grand Prix brings F1 back to life after a four-week summer break, and there's lots to get into throughout the day as we hear from the drivers.
First up will be Nico Hulkenberg's session - his team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto will be in the press conference later.
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Photo by: Jayce Illman / Getty Images
By: Motorsport.com
