Here’s a quick look at what you can expect this weekend at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix.

The second half of the Formula 1 kicks off around the seaside track in Zandvoort. While Zandvoort was only recently added back to the F1 calendar, the local support is electric, with 99% of fans all backing their local champion, Max Verstappen.

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While Max has dominated the F1 season so far, the pace of rival teams has closed down the gap significantly. After a mixed qualifying session, Max will start from pole, with the McLaren of Lando Norris closely behind in P2.

Interested in following the action this weekend? Here’s what you can expect from the Dutch Grand Prix.

Mixed Conditions

The buildup for the Dutch Grand Prix featured a variety of different weather conditions. All 10 teams were tasked to navigate both wet and dry conditions, adding to the complexity of finding the perfect setup for the race.

Qualifying was also tricky, with Q1 and Q2 being on intermediate tyres. The tracked dried up enough for slicks during Q3, with every driver pushing to the limit. Unfortunately, this also caused a few to wander off track and bring out the red flag. The race itself is set to take place in damp conditions, with the chance of rain exceeding 70%.

This adds some difficulty to the teams, but also paves the way for an exciting race where anything can happen.

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Mercedes Trouble

Mercedes was one of the teams to bring some upgrades to the Grand Prix after the summer break. This included a new wing and new aero components around the mirror and underfloor. The upgrades seemed to work well, with pundits stating that Hamilton could fight for pole in the right conditions.

Unfortunately, Hamilton was impeded twice during qualifying by both Aston Martin drivers. This, combined with the weather conditions, saw him exit early during Q2, not even finishing his final run. On the other hand, George Russell had a cleaner qualifying and pushed his W14 to the front of the grid, and claimed provisional pole during Q3. As the final runs began, Russell managed to shoot back up to P3.

This leaves the door open for Russell to challenge the front runners, while Hamilton will have to fight his way through the field.

Ferrari’s Pace

Ferrari has incredible pace around the seaside track and showcased it during the buildup. However, both Ferrari drivers took turns wandering off the track at turn 1.

This could indicate that they need a slight tweak to their setup, preventing lockups as they unleash the straight-line speed of their car.

While they didn’t have the best qualifying session, the team should be able to work their way up and secure decent points in their race for P2 in the constructors.

McLaren’s Return

McLaren have continued their run of form and secured a P2 start with Lando Norris. However, for much of qualifying, Lando looked sure to fight for pole.

At the end of the day, a few mistakes put him 0.5 seconds behind Max Verstappen. Despite this, the pace of the McLaren is undeniable. Both Lando and his rookie teammate, Oscar Piastri, have brilliant machines under them and are clearly the second-fastest team on track.

All eyes will be on them as they challenge Max for the win in Zandvoort.