Colapinto to drive for Alpine in F1 Dutch GP practice; upgrades delayed

Formula 1 resumes after its mid-season break with the Dutch Grand Prix at the Zandvoort circuit. This pause allowed teams to reformulate strategies and recharge for the remainder of the season. Friday features the sole practice session, followed by qualifying for Saturday's sprint race.

Argentine driver Franco Colapinto will participate in the practice session driving an Alpine car. However, the team's anticipated upgrades are not expected to be implemented on his car until the Monza race. Only Pierre Gasly is slated to use the updated components at Zandvoort, according to the French team.

Teams like Ferrari, McLaren, and Aston Martin are also expected to introduce significant changes, potentially altering the competitive landscape from the last race in Hungary. A major development during the break was Max Verstappen's contract extension with Red Bull, keeping him with the team until at least 2030. Red Bull faces a setback at Zandvoort, as Isack Hadjar is sidelined with a wrist injury. Liam Lawson will take his place, with Yuki Tsunoda moving into Lawson's seat.