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The Circuit
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Race
George Russell
1:13.927 Fastest Lap
72 Laps
7th
Lewis Hamilton
1:13.878 Fastest Lap
72 Laps
8th
Qualifying
George Russell
1:10.244 Fastest Lap
18 Laps
4th
Lewis Hamilton
1:10.948 Fastest Lap
13 Laps
12th
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The Circuit

Zandvoort is a special circuit on the calendar, with its big undulation, high speeds and sweeping corners. It can see a real test for the tyres, as they are under plenty of stress, especially during the banking found at Turns 3 and 14. The banking is about 18 degrees, which is double what is experienced at Indianapolis, and more than the 12 degrees we find in Jeddah. As a result, Pirelli are bringing the three hardest compounds they have; the C1, C2 and C3.

Although it might look short and sweet from the outside, this circuit is also very demanding. Drivers will generate some significant G-force as they lap this track, especially in the braking into Turn 1 and later at Turn 11. Downforce is also high here, as well as lateral forces on both the driver and the car, with drivers experiencing about 5G of lateral forces at Turn 7.

The tight and twisty nature also punishes mistakes, but can make overtaking quite the challenge. Last year’s event also saw a torrential downpour during the race, which resulted in some exciting wet–weather driving and the need for the intermediate tyres!

Being by the beach means Zandvoort can occasionally be affected by sand making its way onto the track surface, as well as the changing wind direction. Its close proximity to Amsterdam also attracts big crowds as public transport makes for an easy and environmentally friendly choice to get to the track. Once you’re there, Zandvoort also lends itself to a festival atmosphere, with loud tunes and parties going on in every grandstand.

  • First GP
    1952
  • Circuit Length
    4.259km
  • Race Distance
    306.648km
  • Laps
    72

Everything You Need To Know: Netherlands

Formula 1 is finally back in our lives after our Summer Shutdown, and this week we’re headed to the sandy beaches of Zandvoort. This unusual circuit is the second-shortest on the calendar and comes with plenty of unique challenges for the W15, but it’s also loved by the drivers for its old-school characteristics.

The Championship has a great racing history here, and returned to the Dutch circuit in 2021 after a 36-year hiatus. The track experienced its first taste of Formula 1 in 1952, and the Silver Arrows have picked up five pieces of silverware here over the decades.

A single lap is just 4.259km, and consists of 14 corners, with two DRS zones because of the limited number of straights. Elevation change is also huge here, as well as the iconic banking which can be found at Turns 3 and 14. These parts of the circuit are seriously steep and are double the angle that is found at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Speeds are also high around Zandvoort, with Lewis Hamilton holding the lap record – a 1m11.097s.

Doriane Pin will also be back in action, as Round 4 of F1 Academy returns this weekend. The Frech racer is supported by Mercedes in the series and is currently second in the Drivers’ standings.

After our recent run of success, with three Grand Prix wins in the past four races, the team will be hoping to continue that positive momentum as we enter the second half of the 2024 season. Oh, and eat as many Stroopwaffles as we can get our hands on!

Our Successes

The first visit we made to Zandvoort was in 1955, and was our 10th Grand Prix entry. The circuit looked very different to what we see now, but corners like Tarzan and Gerlach have remained the same. Mercedes-Benz locked out the front row of the grid after Qualifying, and throughout the race we remained one-two with Juan Manuel Fangio ahead and Stirling Moss just behind. The victory is still our only first place at the Netherlands circuit, and our only pole position here too. However, we have come close since then.

Upon its return to the calendar for the 2021 season, Lewis did a brilliant job to start on the front row and challenge for the win the following day. Ultimately he had to settle for second, with team-mate Valtteri Bottas in third – a double podium for the team. Lewis was also able to set the lap record the same year, a 1m11.097s, which still stands to this day.

The next year, George Russell was also able to find himself part of the podium celebrations as he finished in second in a race impacted by several Safety Cars.

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