GEORGE RUSSELL put Mercedes on top of the pile in practice for the Dutch Grand Prix today.

Russell, stripped of his victory at the last round in Belgium after his Mercedes was 1.5 kilograms underweight, finished 0.061 seconds clear of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

Lewis Hamilton was third, a tenth slower than his Mercedes team-mate with Lando Norris, fastest in today’s first running, fourth — one place clear of home favourite Max Verstappen.