HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the action from FP1 at Zandvoort as Verstappen tops the timesheets ahead of Alonso

Max Verstappen topped the FP1 timesheets with a 1m 11.852s as he led second-placed Fernando Alonso by 0.278 seconds. Lewis Hamilton was third and Sergio Perez fourth as F1’s on-track action returned following the summer break.

The session featured some disruption, with red flags thrown after Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg crashed out on the penultimate corner with just over a quarter of an hour remaining. There was also limited running for Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, with a suspected power unit issue forcing him into the garage.

FP1: Verstappen leads Alonso and Hamilton in opening practice session in Zandvoort

Elsewhere Robert Shwartzman got his first laps in the Ferrari under his belt – replacing Carlos Sainz for FP1 – with the Scuderia and Alfa Romeo two teams yet to run soft tyres, instead opting for longer run programmes.

But it was business as usual in a sense, as Verstappen gave his home crowd something to shout about by putting in the fastest time, despite a late trip through the gravel for the championship leader.

Watch the action from FP1 at Zandvoort by hitting go in the video player above.