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Total-Motorsport.com brings you all of the information you need for the F1 sessions at the Dutch GP, including times for Free Practice and Sprint Qualifying, the weather and where to watch the action unfold today. The only practice session of the weekend due to the Sprint weekend format is FP1, which takes place at 12:30 local time in the Netherlands and is swiftly followed by Sprint Qualifying at 16:30 CEST. Friday in the Netherlands will mark an important day for the wider weekend with the only practice session and Sprint Qualifying offering the championship leaders the chance to build early momentum. George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris have all won races this 2026 F1 season, and will fancy their chances of doing so again in the lowland of Europe. Which one of them will emerge triumphant, or can Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen, Liam Lawson or someone else on the grid provide a shock? F1 Dutch GP Practice and Sprint Qualifying Times Today Friday’s only practice session at Zandvoort affords teams just one singular hour of preparation before parc ferme comes into force for Sprint Qualifying. More from Formula 1 Catch up with Total Motorsport's latest Formula 1 coverage, including Lando Norris' Hungarian GP victory, the full race classification, Aston Martin's upgrade review, and the surprise return of Sepang to the 2026 calendar. FP1 will provide the early race pace and qualifying data, but fans do not have to wait long to see how accurate the predictions are with competitive sessions soon after. Any rain or showers could force teams to alter their programmes and prioritise wet tyre running, however, masking the true balance of performance. Free Practice 1 - Belgium / Central Europe (CEST): 12:30 to 13:30 - United Kingdom (BST): 11:30 to 12:30 - United States Eastern (ET): 06:30 to 07:30 - United States Pacific (PT): 03:30 to 04:30 - Australia (AEST): 20:30 to 21:30 - New Zealand (NZST): 22:30 to 23:30 Sprint Qualifying - Belgium / Central Europe (CEST): 16:30 to 17:14 - United Kingdom (BST): 15:30 to 16:14 - United States Eastern (ET): 10:30 to 11:14 - United States Pacific (PT): 07:30 to 08:14 - Australia (AEST): 00:30 to 01:14 Saturday - New Zealand (NZST): 02:30 to 03:14 Saturday Full Dutch GP 2026 Schedule The Dutch Grand Prix does not follow the traditional three-day weekend format with the Sprints at Zandvoort adding an extra qualifying session and extra race. Fans can catch Sprint Qualifying on Friday from 16:30 CEST (local time) in the Netherlands, whilst the Sprint Race takes place on Saturday, August 22 from 12:00 CEST. Sunday’s Dutch GP is scheduled for 15:00 CEST on August 23, and will be run for 72 laps at the Zandvoort circuit. | Session | Your Time | Local Time (Netherlands) | |---|---|---| | Free Practice 1 | 21 Aug, 12:30 – 13:30 (CEST) | | | Sprint Qualifying | 21 Aug, 16:30 – 17:30 (CEST) | | | Sprint Race | 22 Aug, 12:00 – 13:00 (CEST) | | | Qualifying | 22 Aug, 16:00 – 17:00 (CEST) | | | Dutch Grand Prix | 23 Aug, 15:00 (CEST) | Dutch GP Weather Forecast for Friday Practice and F1 Sprint Qualifying Friday is set to be relatively cool and unsettled at Zandvoort, with temperatures around 18C and the possibility of light rain. Moderate north-westerly winds could also influence how teams approach the opening session. Rain would make FP1 even more important, particularly because the Dutch GP is using the Sprint format. Teams have just one practice session to evaluate their cars before Sprint Qualifying, meaning any disruption could significantly reduce the amount of useful data available. The cooler temperatures may also make tyre preparation a key consideration, with drivers needing to build sufficient heat into the tyres to find the required grip. Any damp patches could further complicate matters by creating inconsistent levels of grip around the circuit. There is also a chance of further showers during Sprint Qualifying, meaning teams cannot necessarily rely on the conditions experienced during FP1 when making their later decisions. That creates another challenge for teams as with so little practice running available before the first competitive session, adapting quickly to whatever conditions Zandvoort produces could prove particularly important. What matters most in F1 Today? Friday at Zandvoort is about finding the right compromise between high-speed cornering performance and mechanical grip through the slower sections. The main areas to watch include: - Aerodynamic performance through the fast, flowing corners - Stability through the banked turns - Mechanical grip through the slower corners - Tyre management across the lap - How teams adapt their set-ups after the summer break - How drivers manage the narrow racing surface - How teams perform during Sprint Qualifying Because there is only one practice session, teams have significantly less time than at a conventional weekend to identify problems and optimise their cars. Why Friday matters at the Dutch GP Zandvoort is one of the most challenging circuits on the Formula 1 calendar, measuring 4.259 km (2.646 miles) and featuring 14 corners. The track combines fast, flowing corners with slower sections and significant elevation changes, while its banked turns provide an additional challenge for drivers and engineers. The narrow layout also makes overtaking difficult, placing greater importance on qualifying performance and track position, and that makes the Sprint format particularly demanding. With just one practice session before Sprint Qualifying, teams have limited opportunities to understand the car and correct any set-up mistakes before competitive running begins. Sprint Qualifying is particularly important because it determines the starting order for the Sprint Race, giving drivers only a short window to adapt to the circuit before fighting for position. A strong performance could immediately put the leading contenders in a favourable position for the Sprint, where the winner can secure eight championship points on Saturday. The championship balance ahead of F1 Today at Dutch GP Mercedes head to Zandvoort at the top of both championships, with Italy’s Kimi Antonelli maintaining a 50-point lead over Lewis Hamilton – who is enjoying fine form at Ferrari. However, the Sillver Arrows have taken just one victory in the last five rounds, giving Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull an opportunity to close the gap and end what was expected to be a dominant season by Toto Wolff’s team. Hamilton won the Barcelona GP, Charles Leclerc claimed victory at the British GP, while Lando Norris finally opened his account for the season at the Hungarian GP but despite that recent success from the opposition, Mercedes remain the team to beat. And although Max Verstappen remains without a victory this season, he cannot be discounted at his home event as he secured second in Hungary, showing that Red Bull can still capitalise when the opportunity presents itself. Oscar Piastri remains another contender at the front alongside George Russell, meaning as many as seven drivers could fight for pole, while Liam Lawson adds a wildcard element after stepping into Red Bull on short notice. The Dutch GP therefore begins with Antonelli still leading the championship, but the competitive picture heading into the second half of the 2026 F1 season looks increasingly open. Friday’s sole practice session will provide the first indication of whether Mercedes can re-establish its advantage, or whether the chasing pack can close the gap before Sprint Qualifying. F1 Today FAQs at Dutch GP FP1 starts at 12:30 CEST at Zandvoort on Friday, August 21. It is the only practice session of the weekend because the Dutch GP is a Sprint weekend. FP1 starts at 11:30 BST on Friday, August 21. FP1 begins at 06:30 ET and 03:30 PT on Friday, August 21. The Dutch GP takes place at Zandvoort, with the modern circuit measuring 4.259 km and featuring 14 corners. Friday is expected to be cool and unsettled at Zandvoort, with temperatures around 18C and a possibility of light rain. Moderate north-westerly winds could also influence conditions.