Kimi Antonelli topped the sole practice session at the Dutch Grand Prix but British trio Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell look well set to challenge the championship leader.
The Italian, who turns 20 next week, has returned from the sport's summer shutdown with a 50-point lead over Hamilton at the top of the standings, with his Mercedes teammate Russell nine further back.
Antonelli has won six races in the grid's dominant car but Hamilton and Russell hope to begin reeling him in -- starting this weekend in the seaside town of Zandvoort.
Hamilton has said he believes he has returned in great shape from the break and led the way as practice came towards a conclusion.
But first Norris and then Antonelli found the answer, the Italian finishing the session 0.121 seconds clear of the reigning world champion.
Russell pipped Hamilton to third, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc fifth -- less than three-tenths separating the top five cars to hint at a tight battle for sprint pole later on Friday.
Ferrari and McLaren has brought significant upgrades this weekend as it seeks to claw back the gap to Antonelli and Mercedes.
Hamilton's consistency has kept him in the championship hunt. He is the only driver to have completed every race lap so far this season, with his one win coming in Barcelona in June.
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Norris is refusing to give up hope of defending his title after claiming a first win of the season last time out in Budapest, despite being 91 points off the pace.
Max Verstappen, whose new long-term Red Bull deal was announced on Thursday, finished the session down in 11th.
Sprint qualifying for Saturday's 24-lap dash gets under way at 3.30 p.m. BST.
