Okay, let’s try again, right?
After the disappointing Belgian Grand Prix, we drove 300 km up the road to Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend – the first in 36 years. The driver and machine are put to the test by a combination of tight high-speed corners and an incline – yes, that’s right, an incline. Like Spa, Zandvoort is a beguiling track and like Spa, it can really bite if you insert a bike incorrectly.
To prepare you for our return to the Netherlands, keep scrolling for our latest race preview. It’s packed with the thoughts of McLaren F1 drivers Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo as well as team principal Andreas Seidl before this weekend and much more.
So follow you
| Round | 13th |
| Where | Zandvoort race track |
| When | September 4-5 |
| Start time | 3:00 p.m. local, 2:00 p.m. BST, 9:00 a.m. EDT |
| follow | TEAMStream and the McLaren App for exclusive comments and insights |
What you say
“After a disappointing weekend in Belgium, I’m looking forward to getting back on track this weekend and hopefully giving the fans more show. Zandvoort is a cool track and one that I’ve ridden – and won – before, 2017 in Formula 3. The track has changed quite a bit since then, with new corners that could change the course of the race. I was actually back in Great Britain this week to drive the track in the simulator so that we can be ready to go on Friday when we hit the track. “
“Last weekend I wasn’t expecting to celebrate my 200th GP and it’s a real shame the fans haven’t seen a real race. Fortunately, that doesn’t happen very often in F1 and we’ll be right back.” this weekend in Zandvoort. It’s been a while since I’ve been there and I’m really excited to be back. The fans there are very enthusiastic and I can feel a lot of Dutch support. Hopefully we can take the positive momentum from qualifying in Spa forward and get a couple of decent points. “
“The Belgian Grand Prix was a strange weekend for many reasons and it was a real shame the fans couldn’t see a real race. Fortunately, with the return of F1 to Zandvoort for the first time since the 1980s, we can race again straight away. It’ll be an interesting challenge for the team and drivers as the cars have changed so much since then, while the overall layout of the track remains relatively similar. The tight and curvy characteristics with increased overtaking difficulty will dictate how we approach this new challenge and what priorities should be set in terms of setup and work programs during free practice. Like Monaco, qualifying will make a major contribution to determining the target positions on Sunday.
“While we are going into the second race of this triple header, both the factory and track teams are working flat out to give us the best chance of getting good points, which are so important in the fight for third place in the constructors’ championship. Back in Woking, the team works hard to keep us well supplied with spare parts and the track team, together with our HPP colleagues, goes to an incredible extent to ensure that the cars are in the best possible racing condition. The whole team is very aware of how close this battle for the championship is and everyone is doing their part to support us. Hopefully we can see some decent action this weekend and secure a good point drop. “
What the statistics say
Despite his long absence, Zandvoort has held a total of 30 Formula 1 Grand Prix – the first time in 1952. Of these 30 races, we were three times victorious: ’76, ’84 and ’85 with James Hunt, Alain Prost and Niki Lauda. Lauda’s victory should be his 25th and last in Formula 1. In the same race, team-mate Prost set the official lap record with a time of 1: 16.538 minutes. It’s a record that is likely to be broken this weekend.
Although it has not been on the calendar for more than three decades, Zandvoort is not a complete stranger to Lando and Daniel. Lando completed three Formula 3 races here in 2017. He never got on the podium and was twice the winner. Meanwhile, Daniel did some demonstration drives on the track while driving for Red Bull.
Choice of tire compound for the Dutch GP
What to look out for
Orange. Lots of orange. This color is inextricably linked with McLaren and the Netherlands. It’s part of our heritage. In the case of McLaren, it goes back to our founder Bruce McLaren, but it is also the color of the Dutch royal family – their ancestor William of Orange was the country’s founding father. We don’t know for sure whether this affinity for color automatically turns everyone from the Netherlands into a McLaren fan – we think Max Verstappen has something to say about that – but that doesn’t mean we’re not looking forward to an orange this weekend See the sea in the stands.
Just a stone’s throw from the beach, Zandvoort offers fast, sweeping and tight turns like the Tarzan hairpin and Scheivlak. Oh, and did we mention banking? Yes, there is. Although the track has been tweaked a bit to bring it up to current F1 standards, its famous inflated final corner remains. In fact, it was raised to 18 degrees – roughly twice the banks on Indianapolis Motor Speedway. With a short pit lane, teams are more likely to be more inclined to pursue multi-stop strategies, and the narrow width of the track could make overtaking difficult so catching up with pit stops could be key.
Even though we are only just halfway through the season, the focus is on 2022 and the big rule changes. Teams reduce the developments they bring with them ‘21 cars and we are no different. The remaining developments that you are likely to see will be tweaks rather than big changes, just like the small upgrades around the brake ducts that we introduced at the Belgian Grand Prix last week.
Weather forecast for the weekend
What to wear
Do you know how we told you in the preview last week for the Belgian Grand Prix that we were going to replenish the McLaren x Gulf Collection? Well, this week the time has come. And by this week we mean today! Visit the McLaren Store now to pre-order some of the most sought-after merchandise we’ve ever released.
Plus one
In case you haven’t heard it, McLaren Plus is the most comprehensive, rewarding, and open fan program in F1. It gives you unprecedented access to the team as well as exclusive competitions and giveaways. As a McLaren Plus member, you also get early access to merchandise such as the McLaren x Gulf Collection refills. That’s right, everyone who is a member has two hours ahead of the general sale. The cost of membership you ask? Not a penny. So stop dawdling and sign up below.
That was the weekend that was
The Belgian Grand Prix, according to social media
Continue reading
Question time
The ultimate McLaren F1 FAQ 2021
Continue reading
Team reaction
“What a very strange day!”
Continue reading
The 200 Club
What did Daniel Ricciardo learn after 10 years in Formula 1?
Continue reading
Join the team
McLaren Plus is our free fan loyalty program that brings McLaren fans closer to the team with the most comprehensive, rewarding and open fan programs in Formula 1 and esports.
Register now or current members can change their details in the form below if necessary.
The post McLaren Racing – Everything you need to know about the Dutch Grand Prix first appeared on monter-une-startup.
