Zandvoort hosts Dutch Grand Prix as F1 season resumes

By Liam Tremblay — 21 August 2026 — 4 min read

Dutch Grand Prix returns to Zandvoort

The Formula 1 season resumes with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, marking Round 12 on the calendar. This event features the Sprint format for its fourth appearance this campaign. Free Practice 1 and Sprint Qualifying are scheduled for Friday, August 21, followed by the Sprint and Qualifying on Saturday, August 22. The Grand Prix itself will take place on Sunday, August 23.

The circuit, located near the sea, is known for its challenging conditions. Sand blown onto the track from nearby beaches can affect grip levels, and strong gusts of wind are common. The track’s asphalt has been resurfaced in several sections over the years, contributing to a low level of grip.

Zandvoort features two banked turns with gradients of 19 and 18 degrees, which generate high vertical and lateral forces on the tyres. The circuit’s short lap length and numerous corners also make it particularly demanding on tyres in terms of energy density. Teams will need to manage car set-up carefully, with a high level of aerodynamic downforce required, similar to the conditions at Budapest.

Practice session highlights

During the practice session, Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes spun his car at Turn 10 while attempting to move out of the way of other vehicles. The track was not entirely dry, and tyre choices varied among teams. Williams opted for soft tyres, while six of the top 10 drivers used medium tyres.

Carlos Sainz experienced issues with his car, including difficulty slowing down, snatching brakes, and locking tyres. He also went off at the penultimate corner, causing damage to the floor of his car and dragging gravel across the circuit. This incident led to a brief yellow flag.

Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari set a time of 1:14.259 in P1, later bettering it with a 1:14.742. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, also showed pace with a time of 1:14.925. George Russell was positioned between the two Ferrari drivers, 0.166 seconds behind Hamilton.

Kimi Antonelli achieved a time of 1:15.351 and later moved into P1 with a 1:18.264 on medium tyres. Max Verstappen, Valtteri Bottas, Gabriel Bortoleto, Lance Stroll, and Sergio Perez were among the drivers who had not yet set a time early in the session.

Championship standings and driver insights

As the season resumes, Kimi Antonelli continues to lead the Drivers’ Championship, holding a 50-point advantage over Lewis Hamilton. Charles Leclerc trails George Russell by 22 points. The battle at the front has become increasingly competitive, making the outcome of this weekend’s race difficult to predict.

Lando Norris secured McLaren’s first win of the campaign in Hungary, expressing optimism about the team’s pace. Max Verstappen of Red Bull has achieved back-to-back podium finishes at Spa-Francorchamps and the Hungaroring. Each of the leading drivers has claimed one win across the last five rounds on the calendar.

Former Renault F1 driver Jolyon Palmer described Zandvoort as a lovely circuit that has been well-adapted for modern F1. He noted that overtaking remains difficult due to the track’s old design, but highlighted the significant impact of the banking, particularly at Turn 3 and the final corner. The circuit demands commitment, especially in its undulating middle sector.

The Dutch Grand Prix has a rich history, with the first event held in 1952. The lap record of 1m 11.097s was set by Lewis Hamilton in 2021. Jim Clark holds the record for most wins with 4, while Rene Arnoux and Max Verstappen share the record for most pole positions with 3 each.

The Sprint format at Zandvoort means teams have only one hour of free practice to finalize car set-ups. While the hard compound tyre is expected to be the reference for Sunday’s race, the softer options could be effective for Saturday’s Sprint. Overtaking difficulty, due to the single straight and narrow track width, will also be a key factor in race strategy.

Isack Hadjar has been ruled out of the weekend due to a wrist injury, with Liam Lawson stepping in to replace him at Red Bull, and Yuki Tsunoda taking Lawson’s place at Racing Bulls. Max Verstappen has signed a new contract with Red Bull until the end of 2030.

The Dutch Grand Prix has a 60% probability for both a Safety Car and a Virtual Safety Car, based on the last five races in the Netherlands.

The track length is 4.259km, and the pole run to the Turn 1 braking point is 197 metres.

In 2025, 70 overtakes were completed at the circuit.

The final corner, named after Dutch motorsport legend Arie Luyendyk, features 18-degrees of banking.

The pit stop time loss is estimated at 18.09 seconds.

The 2025 pole-sitter and winner was Oscar Piastri of McLaren.

Source: bbc.co.uk