PREVIEW GP NETHERLANDS 2023. Does Max Verstappen match an illustrious record in front of ‘his’ Orange Legion, or is someone ruining the Dutch party in Zandvoort?

Follow the Formula 1 sessions LIVE here!

About the location

The Grand Prix of the Netherlands was already on the Formula 1 calendar for the first time in 1952 and has always taken place on the North Sea beach, on the Zandvoort circuit. The race disappeared in 1985, but due to the immense popularity of Max Verstappen, the Grand Prix made its return 36 years later. Verstappen gave the frenzied home crowd what it wanted so badly in both 2021 and 2022: a victory. This year he will be happy to make that three out of three.

The Zandvoort circuit has undergone some changes over the years: where it used to be a super fast track with mainly straights and a few gentle bends, it is now a much more technical and winding circuit. Overtaking is therefore not easy, also because the track is not that wide by modern standards. To encourage overtaking, the third and last corner was given a spectacular banking a few years ago.

Also not unimportant: mistakes are quickly punished in Zandvoort. After all, the circuit does not have the gigantic asphalt run-off areas that we see on many other tracks today. Instead, riders will find gravel and grass right next to the track limits. In other words, pay attention – several riders have already been introduced to the gravel in the past two years.

The weather forecast

Our northern neighbors have also not had a great summer as far as the weather is concerned. According to the latest forecasts, this trend will continue this weekend: Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be unsettled with a chance of showers. It will also be quite cool in the North Sea, with maxima barely reaching 20 degrees. (Read more below the photo)

Our forecast

Just like last year, our Formula 1 watcher Gert Vermersch and reporter Sam Varewyck give their expected top three for each race. This year they will be joined by one or two voices from the PlaySports podcast during their predictions The Paddock: Dennis Xhaët and racing driver Sam Dejonghe will also take a gamble.

(Read more below the photo)

That’s how it went last year

Max Verstappen took pole position just like in 2021 and also won the race on Sunday. The Dutchman seemed to have competition from Lewis Hamilton halfway through, but Verstappen took full advantage of a good strategy during a virtual safety car and safety car later in the race. Verstappen won, while Hamilton fell back on older tires in the final phase: in the end he would only finish fourth, behind teammate George Russell and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.

Nice to know

Red Bull has already broken the record for most consecutive constructors’ victories this season – currently the counter stands at 13, already 2 more than McLaren’s previous record from 1988. This weekend it’s Max Verstappen who can make history in a similar way . If he wins on Sunday, it will be his ninth win in a row. Only one driver has ever done that before: Sebastian Vettel exactly ten years ago. Nice detail: Vettel, who has since retired, drove for, yes… Red Bull.