Formula One is back on track for the second week in a row, this time taking on the Zandvoort circuit for the first time since 1985.
It’s been 36 years since Formula 1 cars raced at Zandvoort. The last time a field of F1 cars raced here for the Dutch Grand Prix, names like Prost, Senna and Mansell took part, and Martin Brundle was in a race car rather than a broadcast booth.
F1 is back to the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend, hoping to put forth an exciting race after a disappointing Belgian Grand Prix. The race at Spa Francorchamps was effectively cancelled due to heavy rain, though the decision was made to run the minimum number of laps required behind a safety car to have the Belgian event classified as a race.
The Zandvoort circuit was updated in 2019 to accommodate F1’s return in 2020. The 2020 race was cancelled, but this year the updated circuit includes the dramatic banking of the Arie Luyendijk corner. The corner was understood to be sufficiently banked to allow DRS, though the decision has since been made to not allow DRS through this corner.
Max Verstappen took pole and the win at Spa Francorchamps, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton claiming the other two podium spots. The controversial points awarded for the Belgian Grand Prix narrowed the drivers' championship to just three points.
A win at his home race would put Verstappen back in the lead of the drivers' standings, and Dutch fans will be out in huge numbers to cheer on that result. His teammate Sergio Perez will be looking to return to form after an accident at Spa happened before he could even get to his grid spot left him out of the points. Thankfully Valtteri Bottas also finished outside of the points at Spa, so the constructors’ championship is still a tight battle with Mercedes holding a seven point lead.
The layout of the Zandvoort circuit likely won’t allow for much overtaking, and the weather is predicted to be mainly sunny for the weekend, so the pole sitter will be a heavy favourite to maintain his lead until the end of the race.
Image credits from our good friends and RD community members from F1 RaceReporter
Give us your prediction for the 2021 Dutch Grand Prix in the comments below. Who do you think will take victory here, or who could surprise us with their result?
It’s been 36 years since Formula 1 cars raced at Zandvoort. The last time a field of F1 cars raced here for the Dutch Grand Prix, names like Prost, Senna and Mansell took part, and Martin Brundle was in a race car rather than a broadcast booth.
F1 is back to the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend, hoping to put forth an exciting race after a disappointing Belgian Grand Prix. The race at Spa Francorchamps was effectively cancelled due to heavy rain, though the decision was made to run the minimum number of laps required behind a safety car to have the Belgian event classified as a race.
The Zandvoort circuit was updated in 2019 to accommodate F1’s return in 2020. The 2020 race was cancelled, but this year the updated circuit includes the dramatic banking of the Arie Luyendijk corner. The corner was understood to be sufficiently banked to allow DRS, though the decision has since been made to not allow DRS through this corner.
Max Verstappen took pole and the win at Spa Francorchamps, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton claiming the other two podium spots. The controversial points awarded for the Belgian Grand Prix narrowed the drivers' championship to just three points.
A win at his home race would put Verstappen back in the lead of the drivers' standings, and Dutch fans will be out in huge numbers to cheer on that result. His teammate Sergio Perez will be looking to return to form after an accident at Spa happened before he could even get to his grid spot left him out of the points. Thankfully Valtteri Bottas also finished outside of the points at Spa, so the constructors’ championship is still a tight battle with Mercedes holding a seven point lead.
The layout of the Zandvoort circuit likely won’t allow for much overtaking, and the weather is predicted to be mainly sunny for the weekend, so the pole sitter will be a heavy favourite to maintain his lead until the end of the race.
Image credits from our good friends and RD community members from F1 RaceReporter
Give us your prediction for the 2021 Dutch Grand Prix in the comments below. Who do you think will take victory here, or who could surprise us with their result?
