The Formula 1 World Championship is back on track following the summer break with the Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort. It’s the twelfth round of the championship and marks the start of the second part of the season, which looks like being intense and unpredictable. As the action resumes, Scuderia Ferrari HP is currently second in the Constructors’ World Championship, with Lewis Hamilton second and Charles Leclerc fourth in the Drivers’ standings, with one win apiece.
The track. Zandvoort therefore provides the first test after a few weeks off. The 4.259 kilometre Dutch track is set amongst the dunes on the North Sea coast and features a sequence of high speed corners, with changes of direction and banked sections that make it unique on the calendar. The fact the track is narrow and twisty means overtaking is no easy task, which makes qualifying well a priority. The gravel immediately beyond the track limits is unforgiving, while wind and changeable weather can add further variables over the course of the weekend.
Sprint Weekend. The Dutch Grand Prix will be the fifth event of the season run to the Sprint format. That means just the one free practice session at 12.30 CEST on Friday, before the competitive action starts with Sprint Qualifying at 16.30. The short race, run over 24 laps, starts on Saturday at 12, followed by qualifying at 16. On Sunday, the focus shifts to the main event, which is run over 72 laps and gets underway at 15.
"Zandvoort marks the start of the second part of the season and our approach remains the same: taking it one race at a time and focusing on ourselves. We have recharged our batteries and we are ready for what we expect to be a very closely contested competition. As usual with the Sprint format, we will have just one practice session before sprint qualifying, which makes preparation and getting everything right from the very first laps even more important. Zandvoort is a demanding track for both the drivers and the cars, and our objective is simply to put ourselves in the best possible position and maximise the opportunities that come our way."
Fred Vasseur, Team Principal
