Dutch Grand Prix: Track and Statistics

The Dutch Grand Prix is ​​back on the calendar for the 2021 season, almost six years after the idea was born amid the popularity of Max Verstappen. The return could have happened a year earlier, but in 2020, due to Covid-19, the promoters refused to hold the stage behind closed doors, with no spectators in the stands.

The owners of two circuits formally fought for the right to host the Dutch Grand Prix – in Assen and Zandvoort, but Zandvoort always had an advantage.

The races in these places started in the late 1930s and after the war, the head of the Dutch Royal Automobile Club, John Hugenholtz, invited the winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Sammy Davis, and he developed taking into account the landscape and already built sections, the configuration of the race track.

The first Grand Prix of Zandvoort took place on August 7, 1948, victory went to the Thai prince Bira in a Maserati. The race soon became a national Grand Prix and has been registered on the Formula 1 calendar since 1952. Pilots loved to come to the North Sea coast – a lot here depended on the skill of the driver. The Grand Prix almost always proved interesting: Jim Clark won it four times, and Jackie Stewart and Niki Lauda three each.

Formula 1 left Zandvoort in 1985. Various options were considered for the further use of the circuit, with the result that they decided to keep the sport profile – and stages of local and international series were still organized.

Against the background of Max Verstappen’s popularity in Zandvoort, they turned to the agency with a request to calculate the payback period of the stage. The figures obtained convinced investors – and construction equipment again appeared on the track.

The reconstruction was entrusted to the Italian company Dromo Circuit Design – they modernized the historic circuit, preserving Zandvoort’s fame, and brought it up to modern Formula 1 standards.

Jarno Zaffelli, chief architect of Dromo: “Zandvoort has its own characteristics. For the first time we are working on a track built on sand. Dunes, strong wind, profiled bend. I can compare this song to Suzuka, and that’s no coincidence: they were both designed by John Hugenholtz.

Turn three is named after Hugenholtz. Riders can pass at full speed. The angle of inclination there is greater than 18 degrees – I wonder which trajectory they will choose. This is a turn for the most daring!

Many were skeptical about the return of Formula 1 to Zandvoort, saying overtaking was impossible here, but we were invited to change that. I am convinced that in the end everyone will be happy.”

Follow features

The current layout of the Zandvoort circuit is the fifth to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix and is based on the version used between 1980 and 1985. The classic track acceleration – braking with its own characteristics.

The lap length is 4259 meters and is the shortest circuit on the calendar after Monaco. Racers must complete 72 laps, the distance of the race is 306.648 km.

The Zandvoort circuit rotates clockwise and includes 14 corners, including two profiled corners – Arie Luyendykbocht and Hugenholtzbocht – they have a gradient of 32% (18 degrees, almost twice as much as Indianapolis). The Arie Luyendykbocht corner could have been run with different trajectory options in the design phase with the DRS open, promising a spectacular fight, but at the last minute the FIA ​​excluded it from the second DRS zone.

The aerodynamics are set for medium downforce. The combination of slow turns and high-speed sections requires the traditional compromise between downforce and speed. Due to the small number of serious braking operations, it will not be easy to achieve efficient energy recovery with the MGU-K. In profiled corners, the load on the rubber is high. The wear of the brakes is small.

Weekend schedule

You can follow the progress of all Formula 1 sessions on our livestream page. We have written instructions for viewing live video broadcasts.

Tire sets given to teams for the weekend

Pirelli will bring the hardest rubber compounds to Zandvoort (except for the spare and nowhere used C0). As Hard, Medium and Soft teams, the tires receive C1, C2 and C3. This combination was used this year in Bahrain, Barcelona and Silverstone.

One set of Soft tires must be kept for the Qualifying Final. After that, those who drove in the final must return this set to Pirelli.

One set of medium and hard tires must be kept for the race. Unless declared wet, riders must use at least one of these sets.

Max Verstappen: “The race in Zandvoort will be special for me, because I will perform in front of my fans. It was great to see how many fans supported us in Austria and Belgium and I hope we can put on a spectacular show for everyone in the stands this weekend in Zandvoort.

Talking about the track, it won’t be easy to overtake there, but on a fast lap in qualifying we’ll have fun. The speed in qualifying will be high, any mistake can be costly. It would of course be incredibly great to win there for the Orange Army.

Dutch Grand Prix: All stages

Absolutely every Dutch Grand Prix is ​​described on F1News.ru as part of our historic project…