Formula 1 was in competitive shape when it went into its summer break, with four different drivers tasting victory in the last five rounds.
Max Verstappen’s healthy lead in the drivers’ championship looks unlikely to be overturned, but that doesn’t mean he can expect to have things his way at his home round.
Here are the talking points for this weekend’s race.
Four in a row for Verstappen?
Verstappen has stamped his authority all over his home race since the Dutch Grand Prix returned to the calendar three years ago. No one else has started from pole position or won at Zandvoort during that time.
But he is up against it as he returns to the Dutch seaside track this year. He went into the summer break having failed to win any of the previous five races.
Of course for Verstappen there would be nowhere better to end his win-less run than on home asphalt. By Sunday evening, he will either have ended his longest losing streak for four years, or the Dutch Grand Prix will a new winner.
Are Mercedes taking over?
Mercedes have now won three of the last four races. The first of those, in Austria, was aided by Verstappen’s collision with Lando Norris, but the W15s were arguably the cars to beat at Silverstone and Spa.
Indeed, their latest victory came without the new upgrade the team brought to Belgium. Mercedes opted not to run the new parts due to an inconclusive day of running on Friday and the added complication of rain on Saturday.
However Mercedes intend to try the new parts again this weekend, and it may prove another step forward for a car which has made regular improvements in recent races and has the potential to become the class of the field.
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Alpine’s latest leader
For the second year in a row, Alpine arrive at the Dutch Grand Prix with a new team principal. This weekend’s race will be their first under the leadership of Oliver Oakes, who previously led junior outfit Hitech, which races in Formula 2, Formula 3 and elsewhere.
Alpine scored their most recent podium finish at this race 12 months ago, courtesy of Pierre Gasly. But they have had little to celebrate since then – that one third place bagged them more points than they’ve taken over the whole of 2024 so far.
It’s hard to imagine the team will repeat last year’s feat. Oakes is likely to face fewer questions over the team’s performance than its future, amid rumours the change in direction at Alpine has come about at the instigation of recently-appointed consultant Flavio Briatore, whose is rumoured to have been hired to sell the struggling team.
Room for Lawson?
The summer break saw more drivers fall into place for next season. But one who is yet to secure a drive is the one who impressed on his short-notice debut in this round last year.
Liam Lawson faced a steep test as he was dropped into the seat previously occupied by Daniel Ricciardo when the AlphaTauri (now RB) driver broke a wrist during practice. Although Lawson enjoyed a strong series of appearances for the team and picked up points in Singapore, he has spent 2024 on the sidelines.
Will he get the chance to drive full-time for one of Red Bull’s teams next year? As Sergio Perez’s place in the senior squad was re-confirmed as the summer break began, the only option remaining is if he once again replaces Ricciardo. Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko has indicated a decision will come soon.
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Zandvoort’s future
Zandvoort never fails to pull in a large, enthusiastic crowd, but that alone is not enough to guarantee any track’s place on the calendar. Its current contract expires after next year and competition for space on the 2026 calendar is growing, especially with the arrival of a new race in Madrid.
It’s hard to imagine the world champion’s home race could disappear from the calendar but Zandvoort is far from the only European venue to find itself under pressure at the moment. Will we hear good news about its future this weekend?
Are you going to the Dutch Grand Prix?
If you’re heading to Netherlands for this weekend’s race, we want to hear from you:
Who do you think will be the team to beat in the Dutch Grand Prix? Have your say below.
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2024 Dutch Grand Prix
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