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On Sunday, August 25, 2024, the Dutch Grand Prix will be held at the Zandvoort circuit, marking the fifteenth race of the Formula 1 World Championship. After the summer break, Max Verstappen returns as the leader of the standings to compete in the Grand Prix in his homeland, the Netherlands, at Zandvoort. It is a circuit where he has always triumphed both in qualifying and in the race since 2021, the year when the track returned to the World Championship calendar after a long absence. On one hand, the Dutch driver from Red Bull Racing will be able to count on the support of his people, but on the other hand, he will always have to keep an eye in his mirrors on the return of McLaren and Lando Norris, who currently holds second place in the overall standings, 78 points behind, after an impressive comeback by the British team, including Oscar Piastri's victory at the recent Hungarian Grand Prix.
"If we look at the championship, Lando is the closest in the standings, but lately, we see that there are many cars and many drivers winning races, so it is a big question mark. We are very close. Attention to detail and the ability to bring the car into the right operating window can make the difference because there are many teams and many cars that are close. We'll see what happens, but it's very difficult to express ourselves at the moment".
Max Verstappen also commented on the departure of Jonathan Wheatley, who, after nearly twenty years with Red Bull Racing as Sporting Director, has announced that he will join the Audi project:
"I had heard about it even before the announcement, but in the end, I have a great relationship with Jonathan, and it will remain so even if he moves to another team for another opportunity. He will have a different role, and sometimes it's also a bit of a new challenge, so there's no resentment from my side, on the contrary. I'm happy for him that he has this opportunity. Clearly, we will miss him within the team, but as a team, we must also look to the future, turn the page, and figure out how to fill all the roles currently performed by Jonathan. I'm happy for him, and the team is also very grateful for all the work he has done, so there is no resentment at all".
In three editions held at Zandvoort, Max Verstappen has thrilled his fans with three victories and three pole positions: a perfect streak that, however, could end this year, as Red Bull Racing is no longer as competitive as in past years. But the Dutch driver doesn't seem worried about this prospect:
"It was a positive break, spent with friends and family. I might have wanted another week of rest, but it was still a useful month to take a break from Formula 1 and think about other things. I'm happy to be here in the Netherlands, and I'm looking forward to a weekend where there might even be some rain. I think it will be the toughest race, considering how many teams are involved for the final victory. I want to better understand the car, aiming for a clean weekend. We've done a lot of analysis during the break, and we'll change a few things. I certainly can't guarantee that we'll win the race. A potential defeat wouldn't be hard for me to swallow. If you can win the race, you try to do it. If you can't, you try in the next race. We'll have to understand at what level we are over the course of the weekend. Clearly, last year I had more confidence coming here, while this year the season is more competitive. It doesn't matter if the race is wet or dry; we just have to try to find the best possible balance for our car. Will the rule changes on brakes affect Red Bull's performance? Not at all".
This weekend, Max Verstappen will compete in his 200th Formula 1 race, a significant milestone reached at just 26 years old:
"I don't think I'll run another 200 and that I'm already over halfway through my career. Honestly, winning the very first race is the most exciting thing, a very special thing that you've dreamed of since you were a child, in addition to winning the first championship: two beautiful moments that I will think back to even at the end of my career. Obviously, 2028 is still a long way away, but right now, in my mind, I'm not thinking about a new contract. I just want to see how things go, starting with the new regulations, to understand if I will enjoy it or not. Then there will also be 2026 and 2027, so there will be plenty of time to decide how things will go. I'm keeping every option open and am quite relaxed about it".
One thing seems certain: Max Verstappen will not compete in another 200 Grands Prix in Formula 1:
"I don't think it will happen. I think I'm already in the second half of my career".
Meanwhile, McLaren is intensifying its efforts to win the Constructors' World Championship by bringing the first major upgrade package for the MCL38, starting from the Miami Grand Prix. This was announced by Lando Norris:
"Last year, we were strong here. Maybe we didn't get the best result in the end, but we were fast. This weekend, for the first time since Miami, we've brought some new things to the car that will help us make progress and recover some ground compared to the other cars. The goal of the updates? To go faster. We want to increase the car's grip and go faster. We haven't had a proper upgrade since Miami. We've added some small things to the car, but nothing that could be defined as a true package. They were just small steps forward. Many other teams have brought bigger packages in the last few races, especially our main competitors. It was about time, but I think, in a positive sense, we took our time to try to understand everything well. We've seen other teams put new things on the car, but that doesn't mean they work. We wanted to be sure of what we were doing, so we were patient. I think we paid the price in the last two weekends, even though we've had great races against rivals who had new things".
The first part of the season concluded with two podiums for Oscar Piastri, one of which was particularly memorable for the young Australian driver, who won his first Formula 1 race in Hungary. These events, along with the two previous ones, were not simple from a physical standpoint for the McLaren driver, who had to deal with annoying pain due to a broken left rib. A problem that arose even before the British Grand Prix:
"It definitely happened at some point in Austria. I think it was probably a bit disturbed in Barcelona, then in Austria, while it was quite painful at Silverstone. It was bad for a few days, but after some adjustments, I felt better even when driving, so everything returned to normal. We understood what we could change on the seat, and the pain lessened a lot once we changed a few things, so I was already improving from Budapest until today, and it hasn’t gotten worse. I’m fine now".
McLaren is now being pointed to as the most competitive car. On this topic, Oscar Piastri adds:
"I think we are definitely in a strong position, and the gap has obviously closed in the last seven or eight races. We have a lot of momentum, and clearly, our car is doing very well. I'm certainly not ruling out Red Bull. Verstappen has done a great job, and I would say that Perez has gone through a similar series of moments in the past, but he's come out scoring many more points, so we'll see. It certainly won't be an easy battle, and I don’t think we are necessarily the favorites for the championship, but I think we have a strong chance of achieving it. The first goal is to win the Constructors' Championship, and if we are closing the gap in this classification, there are good chances that Lando and I will do the same in the Drivers' Championship".
Looking ahead to the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri also comments on the difficulties that drivers might face, especially in case of a wet track or gusty winds:
"It will be incredibly tough; the amount of downforce you gain or, more importantly, lose, depending on the wind direction, in some corners will probably be like driving a Formula 2 car. It’s a huge change and also very difficult for us because obviously, we can't feel the wind well. You can feel it quite well when it's crosswind, but when it's headwind or tailwind, it's not always so easy to tell, and if a gust comes at the wrong moment, it’s completely out of your control in a way. I think it will be quite an interesting day and an interesting weekend with the wind and rain".
After the victory at Monaco, Scuderia Ferrari took a wrong direction regarding the development and setup of the car. It was only in the last few races before the break that they managed to partially recover. Charles Leclerc returned to the podium only at Spa-Francorchamps, thanks to George Russell's disqualification, and he is the first to admit that his SF-24 will very likely not offer anything better for the Dutch Grand Prix. Significant improvements can only come with the new upgrade package.
"Things are changing very quickly, and it's rather strange because in Formula 1, once there is a gap, it usually takes a long time for a team to close it. This year, however, McLaren has made great strides and very quickly. I was surprised. Mercedes has also made progress in recent races. Unfortunately, we are among the teams that have struggled the most lately, but we are working on it. I am fully confident in the work we are doing and the updates we will bring. I can't say when we will have them, but the improvements we will make will help us move forward".
In short, ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc does not expect significant progress. The Monegasque driver is essentially in agreement with the defensive strategy of team principal Frederic Vasseur:
"I don’t expect that from this race we will return to the form level we saw before Monaco. At that time, we had the pace to do certain things. Not anymore. After Monaco, we had five or six races where we did extreme things with the setup, which were not optimal for maximizing our race weekends. However, in the last two races before the break, we maximized the points we could take with our car. There is no particular problem with the car; we are just missing overall performance. We are not fast enough. Until we have the pace, the goal will be to maximize points and lose as few as possible to our rivals. Then, when we have our updates, we hope they will be enough to get us back in the fight".
An important factor during the race weekend, as mentioned, could be the wind, which had caused difficulties for Ferrari in 2023. Weather forecasts predict very strong gusts, especially on Friday:
"I don’t think there are cars designed for the wind expected on Friday. I think it could reach 80 km/h, and I'm not sure there will be many cars on track if that’s the case. However, I believe the wind will calm down for Saturday and Sunday, but it will still be extremely strong. We've definitely made progress on this feature, which was a weak point last year. However, we will see how much. I think we've already seen the result of the first part of the season: in those windy conditions, it’s a much more consistent and predictable car. It’s been a big step forward".
In Formula 1, it's rare to find friends, especially if they are your teammates. Charles Leclerc never demanded to become friends with Carlos Sainz Jr., but he tried to maintain a good relationship. Something he has essentially achieved during their four years as teammates, although the bond with the Spanish driver has experienced very difficult moments, especially due to some on-track incidents.
"I will miss Carlos as a person. We get along very well. Unfortunately, in this world, everything is analyzed and criticized excessively, but we've always had a good relationship. We share many interests, and there are memories I will carry with me forever. Wearing the helmet, there were times when I hated him, and he hated me because we didn't see things the same way. But then everything gets sorted out by talking to each other. In my career, at least in Formula 1, I have been fortunate to always find myself with teammates who are very open to discussion, able to separate what happened on track from the relationship off track. It happened with Marcus Ericsson, Sebastian Vettel, and now with Carlos. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad relationship with a teammate, but I think that's also part of my character".
Charles Leclerc describes his bond with Carlos Sainz Jr. and admits that this did not affect the Spanish driver's choice to accept a contract from Williams Racing:
"I have a great relationship with Carlos. When making these kinds of decisions, of course, the teammate is not the first person you talk to. He mostly talked with his father and the team around him, but we did talk, and sometimes he asked me what I would have done. At the same time, we are also competitors, so there is always a balance between the friendship that binds us and those moments when he opened up to me, whereas for the actual decision, he talked more with his team, which is completely normal. We had some of these discussions, but I'm pretty sure I didn’t influence his choices".
The Dutch Grand Prix will be the first of this season after the summer break, but also the first for Carlos Sainz Jr. with the guarantee of a future away from Scuderia Ferrari starting from the 2025 season. After the last Belgian Grand Prix, the Spanish driver reached an official agreement with Williams Racing, confirming the rumors that had arisen in previous weeks.
"I think the team has done its analysis of the season and obviously of the first half. What’s important for us is, after the problems we had with our updates, to fully understand them and ensure that the next updates go in the direction we really need. It’s super clear that our rivals have done an excellent job in that regard. Both Mercedes and McLaren have surpassed us, and Red Bull seems to be very competitive. If we want to get back in the fight, we need to understand why we haven’t found the performance we wanted from the updates".
Carlos Sainz Jr. remains confident about the progress Scuderia Ferrari can make in the upcoming races:
"I believe we have understood exactly what went wrong with the few parts that didn’t work as we expected. Whether we will be able to or have enough time to restore that lost time remains to be seen. That’s what I don’t know, because I don’t know how much the others will also develop, but knowing and having analyzed exactly what we think we got wrong is clear. Now it’s a matter of pure logistics in terms of time and the ability to add, I think, two, three, four-tenths to the car in the next ten races to be as fast as McLaren, for example, because I think that’s the gap, depending on the circuit".
The signing with the English team was a fallback, but above all, a necessity to be as calm as possible in the second part of the season:
"First of all, I think it was important for me to make the decision before the summer break. It has been seven very tough months of my career, during which I had to deal with everything that happened in January, combined with giving my best as a Ferrari driver in a high-pressure environment. When I made the decision, I wanted to be 100% convinced. I made that decision because Williams is the team with which I had great feelings and great conversations right from the start. I feel they are a team very committed to Formula 1, with a very solid project for the future, strong leadership, and a desire to bring the Williams name back to the top. I was motivated when I went to McLaren, to Ferrari when they were further back on the grid after a tough 2020, and I am motivated now by a project like Williams".
A team that has always convinced Carlos Sainz Jr. from the beginning of the negotiations until signing the two-year contract, which includes an option for renewal:
"I made the decision around Spa, but I always had good feelings throughout all the negotiations. I always kept Williams in my mind because I always had a good feeling with Vowles and the investment group Dorilton Capital. For me, the people were also important because I learned to trust my feelings toward them".
As mentioned, the Formula 1 World Championship resumes with the Dutch Grand Prix and the home idol, Max Verstappen, leading the standings with a 78-point advantage over McLaren's Lando Norris. With ten races still to go, the British driver is seen by many as the direct challenger to the current World Champion and the only one capable of overtaking him in the standings. This view is also shared by George Russell, who says on the subject:
"I believe that at the moment there is only one driver, probably Lando, who can beat Max in the championship. He obviously has had an incredible season. But who knows, there are still so many races left, and I was talking about this with Lewis, so there are still plenty of opportunities. However, I don’t know if anyone can catch up to Max and Red Bull because under normal circumstances, they have a huge advantage, but we have gotten used to total domination in the past seasons".
Speaking of Mercedes, George Russell's new teammate for the 2025 season could be Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a young Italian driver in his first year in Formula 2. On this subject, when George Russell is asked if he is ready to welcome the Italian driver to the team, the British driver responds with a joke:
"Kimi who, Raikkonen? Or Kimi Antonelli? But he's the Formula 2 driver, right? Whoever my teammate will be next year, of course, we will welcome him with open arms. I will be excited about the challenge. Kimi is an exceptional driver who has a truly fantastic track record in the junior categories and is destined to become a Formula 1 driver. If he were my teammate, I think this would also demonstrate the strength of Mercedes' junior program and remind me a bit of the path I started as a kid. It would also be a great story for the team, but who knows".
While waiting to see what will happen with the possible debut of Andrea Kimi Antonelli in Formula 1 in 2025, and possibly with Mercedes, George Russell talks about his relationship with the young Italian driver:
"I see him every time he races in Formula 2, and we always watch his races very closely. We also did some testing together at Silverstone a few months ago. It was a great opportunity for him to try out a Formula 1 steering wheel, and he was exceptionally fast. I am sure that if he were to make it to Formula 1, he would do an excellent job".
Staying on the topic of driver markets, a few days before the start of the Dutch Grand Prix, former team principal and current English commentator Eddie Jordan ventured to say:
"In 2025, Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull will be Liam Lawson".
At Zandvoort, Red Bull Racing’s external consultant Helmut Marko did not dismiss this possibility and even opened the door to this possibility without going through the junior team Racing Bulls, where he had already proven himself in 2023, when Daniel Ricciardo injured his wrist during the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
"Lawson will be in one of our four cars in 2025".
Red Bull Racing wants to evaluate Sergio Perez’s performance on two tracks that are particularly favorable to the Mexican driver. At Monza and Baku, Checo has often stood out, and the management of the Milton Keynes team wants to see him perform on these two tracks. Meanwhile, the calendar includes the Zandvoort event, where Helmut Marko challenges McLaren:
"In the last few races, we have not lived up to our potential. In the Netherlands, qualifying is crucial; together with McLaren, we are certainly among the favorites".
Helmut Marko does not hide the fact that the work done by Red Bull Racing in the first half of the season has not yielded the desired results:
"Updates? I would rather call them downgrades. We’ll see how it goes in the Netherlands. In the last few races, we have not shown our best level and have not achieved the results that were within our reach, also due to particular factors such as the penalty spent at Spa for introducing a new engine".
On Friday, April 23, 2024, BWT Alpine F1 Team is delighted to announce the promotion of Reserve Driver Jack Doohan into a full-time race seat for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season. Jack Doohan will join the already signed and announced Pierre Gasly to form the team's driver pairing for next season, becoming the first Alpine Academy prospect to graduate into a race seat with the team. Pierre and Jack give the team balance of youth and experience in its driver line-up geared towards building a successful future. The 21-year-old Australian has served as the team's Reserve Driver for the past two years after a successful junior career in international single-seater racing. Jack Doohan finished runner-up in the 2021 FIA Formula 3 Championship and third place in the 2023 FIA Formula 2 Championship, before becoming full-time Reserve Driver in 2024 where he has been a valuable contributor in the team's driver in loop simulator. Jack Doohan became the first driver in Formula 2 history to take pole position, race win, fastest lap, and lead every lap of a Feature Race at the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix. He recorded six wins in the category as well as five pole positions and a further five podium finishes during two seasons of competition. He will continue his role as Reserve Driver for the remainder of the 2024 season, taking part in regular Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) events in the A522 Formula 1 car, as well as duties in the team's simulator on select race weekends.
"I am so happy to secure promotion into a full-time race seat in 2025 with BWT Alpine F1 Team. I am very grateful for the trust and belief by the team's senior management. There is so much work ahead to be prepared and ready and I will give my best in the meantime to absorb as much information and knowledge to be ready for the step up. It's exceptionally satisfying to be the first graduate of the Alpine Academy to be in a race seat with the team and I'm extremely thankful to those who supported me along the way to make this a reality. It's an exciting moment, a proud day for my family, and I look forward to taking it all in and pushing hard behind the scenes".
Oliver Oakes, the new Alpine Team Principal, says:
"We are very excited to promote Jack into the race seat from next season and, in doing so, giving him the opportunity to showcase his skill and talent in Formula 1. Jack will become the first driver to graduate from the Alpine Academy into a race driver position with the team, so that is exceptionally pleasing for the team and its young driver pathway".
So he adds:
"Personally, I have worked with Jack back in 2019 and I am fully aware of his raw talent and potential. He is a very hard worker behind the scenes and his commitment is hugely valued by the entire team. Alongside Pierre, we have a well-balanced driver line-up with a good combination between youthful energy, experience, and pure speed. We look forward to working with both Jack and Pierre in order to keep developing the car and bring the team up the grid".
For the Dutch Grand Prix, Pirelli, the sole tire supplier, offers teams a choice of C1, C2, and C3 tires, which are the hardest compounds in the range provided by the Italian company. Meanwhile, the FIA confirms the two Drag Reduction System (DRS) zones set during the 2021 edition when the Zandvoort circuit returned to the world championship calendar with a different configuration for the first time since the 1985 season. The first DRS zone is set on the main straight of the pit lane. In the 2022 edition, this zone was extended by 300 meters, with the detection point moved and placed after Turn 12, compared to the previous edition. Thanks to this change, drivers were allowed to activate the DRS while navigating the last turn, famous for its 18-degree banking. This modification helped drivers enter the main straight with more speed in an attempt to overtake. The second zone is set between Turn 10 and Turn 11, with the detection point positioned at the entrance of Turn 10. Compared to the 2023 edition, the circuit has undergone some changes. The pit lane has been extended with the addition of six garages, along with the redevelopment of the area outside the track. The safety barriers have been realigned at Turn 6 on the right side and at Turn 2 on the left side. New concrete walls with Federation-compliant fences have been installed between Turn 10 and Turn 11 on the right side. For this race, the Federation sets the minimum speed inside the pit lane at 60 km/h. The global motorsport authority establishes that if drivers do not correctly navigate Turns 1, 8, or 11, they must use the external escape route that leads back to the track at the exit of Turn 1, Turn 9, and Turn 12, respectively. During the summer break, the FIA adopted a series of regulatory changes, both technical and sporting.
It clarifies when a penalty awarded in a race or a Sprint Race can be converted into a grid penalty for the next race if the driver was unable to serve it during the race itself: five and ten-second time penalties can be converted if the driver is classified as "not finished" at the end of the race or Sprint, while drive-through and stop-and-go penalties can be converted if the driver retires from the race or Sprint Race. This clarification was deemed necessary following incidents in the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint and the Austrian Grand Prix race, where time penalties were imposed but not served by drivers before their retirement. However, since in both cases the retirements occurred after completing 90% of the race distance, the drivers were still classified, and therefore the penalties were added to their final race time. The regulations have been updated to allow teams to build test cars based on vehicles from the 2020-2023 period, in order to better prepare for the technical regulation changes planned for the 2026 season. Teams using test cars will only be allowed to use drivers with 500 km of experience driving a current Formula 1 car at constant race speeds. Starting from this Grand Prix, during a red flag period, cars may be instructed to line up on the starting grid instead of the pit lane, which must be closed for safety reasons; the first driver to arrive on the starting grid will stop in the pole position slot, and the others will occupy the remaining slots based on the order in which they arrived; all the planned procedures will be carried out on the starting grid instead of the pit lane. Another clarification concerns a driver stopping in any area of the track outside the pit lane during qualifying: that driver will no longer be able to participate in the session only if they receive physical assistance to restart. In conclusion, regarding the technical regulations, the FIA introduces a change banning asymmetric braking systems. This type of system, which could have provided an advantage to future cars introduced under the 2026 regulations and which are prone to understeer, could have improved load distribution, contributing to greater stability in slow corners. However, with this change, any use of such technology is now prohibited.
The return from the summer break is far from peaceful for the Haas team. The American team is forced to endure an unexpected visit from bailiffs, sent by the team’s former Russian sponsor, Uralkali, with the intention of cataloging the team’s inventory. The team, led by Ayao Komatsu, is required to repay the former title sponsor the amounts that had already been paid before the contract was terminated, following an arbitration ruling issued in June by a Swiss court. The contract was terminated in March 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The ruling stated that Haas had the right to terminate the contract but not to retain the funds previously received. However, sanctions imposed by the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom against Russia complicate the feasibility and especially the timing of the refund process.
"Haas intends to pay Uralkali all amounts due under the arbitration award, and there is no dispute over the amounts owed. Haas has worked with its lawyers to ensure that the payment complies with all sanctions laws and regulations of the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and Switzerland. We will continue to work with Uralkali in the coming days to fully resolve the matter".
It therefore seems unlikely that the matter will be resolved by Sunday. Uralkali, for its part, is striking back with the presence of the bailiffs. If payment is not made by Monday, August 26, 2024, Uralkali could prevent Haas from leaving the Netherlands to move to Italy, pending receipt of the agreed-upon refund. Changing the subject, earlier this year news emerged of an internal complaint at Red Bull Racing by a Formula 1 team employee against Team Principal Christian Horner for inappropriate behavior. The company initiated an internal investigation conducted by an outside lawyer, who cleared the Team Principal of all accusations on February 28, 2024. After being suspended from her position, the employee decided to appeal in March 2024. The appeal was dismissed on August 8, 2024, and Red Bull Racing announced this in a press release. Horner thus emerged exonerated from all charges leveled against him by the internal corporate process, although it is not entirely ruled out that there could be further developments in ordinary justice or labor court:
"Obviously, it was an extremely thorough process, and I am relieved by the outcome of the appeal and the dismissal of the claim. Now, as it has been for the entire season, we are focusing on the races, including Max’s home race, as we look ahead to the final ten Grand Prix races".
On Friday, August 23, 2024, the first free practice session began with rain and wind, but these quickly subsided, allowing the track to dry rapidly. Pierre Gasly set the fastest time on wet tires, but the best performances came, of course, when the drivers switched to slick tires. The fastest was Lando Norris, followed by Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Carlos Sainz Jr. placed fourth; the Spanish driver set his time on Medium tires, saving a set of Soft tires compared to his competitors. The subsequent practice session took place under dry and clear conditions. However, the track had low grip, which did not prevent George Russell, the fastest, from completing a lap only a few tenths of a second slower than the pole position recorded during the 2023 Grand Prix edition. The speed of the Mercedes was confirmed by the third-fastest time set by Lewis Hamilton. Oscar Piastri finished between the two; the McLaren cars showed great competitiveness over the long run. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz Jr.’s car had technical problems with the gearbox, and Charles Leclerc could not find the right setup. The session was briefly interrupted with a red flag following a spin at the first corner by Nico Hülkenberg, caused by a strong gust of wind.
"We’re a bit too slow in the short runs and a bit too slow in the long runs, so there’s work to be done".
With these words, Max Verstappen commented on the first day of free practice on his home track in Zandvoort. In three editions of the Dutch Grand Prix, the local hero has always secured pole position and victory. This time, however, the road seems really uphill:
"At the moment, there isn’t a clear way to improve the situation, but we’ll look into it in detail. For now, we’re just too slow, that’s all there is to it. This performance is not a big surprise: we are where we have been in the last few races. We’ll try to find more performance for Sunday".
Lando Norris finished fourth in FP2, after being the fastest in the morning free practice session, which was mostly affected by a wet track. However, McLaren, just like Mercedes, provided the best signals in terms of race pace.
"FP2 went well, it was nice to get back in the car. Zandvoort is not an easy track to return to so abruptly because it's fast, twisty, and has many ups and downs. Still, we need to make some progress for tomorrow. Are we the strongest this weekend? Probably not. Mercedes seems a bit faster to me. But we’re close. I don't think there is a car that is clearly faster; it depends on many factors. We've been doing well since Miami, but then we haven’t brought any updates, and this is the first weekend where we're trying to make some progress with the car. I'm optimistic, but I can't say if they will work well right away or not. Overall, it was a good day, we're right there. We need to improve a bit more overnight, and we can challenge Mercedes".
Historically, Zandvoort is not a circuit that suits the characteristics of Ferrari’s cars, and the first free practice sessions have confirmed this. Charles Leclerc was 0.7 seconds off George Russell's best time in FP2, while in the same session, Carlos Sainz (who had shown good results in the morning session, though it was hard to judge) had to stop due to a transmission problem. A day that can't satisfy anyone, not even Frédéric Vasseur:
"We know that Zandvoort is a challenging circuit because it has a series of corners, and as soon as you make a mistake, you pay the price for all the subsequent corners. We need to optimize the setup, but we were only able to work with one car this afternoon because of the issue with Carlos' car. And that's a pity because it's always easier to improve when you can work with two cars. Certainly, it wasn't ideal because we already had FP1 in the wet, so there were only two sessions available. Of these, we lost one, which is not great. However, if the conditions are good tomorrow morning, we'll have two stints to improve and fix the situation".
Frédéric Vasseur is not pessimistic. He knew that the work at Zandvoort would be tough for the team, so the ninth place at the end of FP2 doesn’t scare him:
"You always have to take the positives. Charles did a lot of testing, including on driving and race simulation, and I think this will pay off tomorrow. Certainly, Zandvoort is a complicated circuit, where small differences can lead to significant performance improvements even over the weekend. We will work tonight, and tomorrow we will be in better shape".
The Ferrari Team Principal doesn’t want to think about the next Italian Grand Prix now:
"Are we waiting for Monza for better performances? No, we're at Zandvoort, and we have to score good points here. We know that last year this was the toughest weekend of the season for us. But even if it’s going to be a tough weekend, we have to score points and do our job. We need to focus on getting the maximum points possible. Then Monza will be another story, and I hope we arrive there in better condition".
It could hardly have been a worse return from the holidays for Ferrari, at least looking at the numbers at the end of FP2.
Carlos Sainz Jr. completed only seven laps before being stopped by a gearbox problem, while Charles Leclerc ran regularly but could not go beyond the ninth fastest time in the standings. On this subject, the Monegasque driver said:
"It was a tough day, but as expected, I would say. We’re not able to run at the pace of our rivals, although I think the situation is better than it looks when looking at today’s timesheet. For sure, there's work to be done to try and put ourselves in a position to fight for the win. Tomorrow, I’ll do everything to get the most out of qualifying, but the gaps we're seeing right now seem too big to come up with something special. If we can get within 0.2-0.3 seconds of those in front, we might be able to fight for a good grid position; otherwise, I foresee a rather difficult weekend for us".
Carlos Sainz Jr. compares this weekend to those with the Sprint Race format due to the technical problems that emerged during FP2:
"Today, I practically didn’t get to test. I did three fast laps in FP1 due to the wind, but it was the same for everyone, and then we tried to make up for it in FP2. However, we then had a gearbox problem that didn’t allow us to complete more than two or three laps. So, effectively, today starts a sort of sprint weekend because tomorrow we will have just one session to get into the right rhythm. I’ll have to start strong in FP3, and hopefully, we can put in a good performance. The positive aspect is that the gearbox problem shouldn’t affect the rest of the weekend. In any case, it wasn’t ideal. We needed both cars on track because we know this is one of our weakest tracks of the season, given the nature of the long corners and high downforce. But as I said, there will be FP3 tomorrow, so we will do our best to make up time and prepare for qualifying".
In contrast, the return from the summer break is satisfactory for Mercedes. The Anglo-German team managed to get both drivers into the top-5 in both FP1 and FP2. The first session, however, was hampered by bad weather and strong wind, with Lewis Hamilton in third position, followed by George Russell in fifth. Russell then set the fastest time during the second session. The British driver lapped in 1'10"702, with a lead of just 0.061 seconds over the McLaren of Oscar Piastri, a team that also stood out for the updates brought to Zandvoort and for Lando Norris’s best performance in FP1. Mercedes also brought updates, with the W15 featuring a new floor:
"It was good to get back in the car and into the swing of things with the first day of running here in Zandvoort. It was difficult out there due to the windy conditions. It is perhaps the windiest conditions I can remember driving an F1 car in over the past few years. Nevertheless, the car was performing really well, and the updated floor we brought to Spa seemed to be working effectively. The pack at the front seems to be quite close once again. We expect to be facing another fascinating battle across the rest of the weekend for the podium spots. That said, it could all be very different tomorrow as the conditions likely change once again. I'm excited to get back in the car tomorrow and see what we can do".
Lewis Hamilton’s feelings at the end of the first day of practice are good, though there is still a need to continue working on the setup:
"Today wasn't a bad start to the weekend. Everything went well, the car was feeling alive, and we were near the front of the field on the timing screens. We understand our car, and that is making starting each weekend on the front foot much easier. We can make small tweaks from there, rather than big changes, and that is making it much easier to find performance. That was the case today and sets us up well for the rest of the weekend. There's still more time to find out for sure. I didn't get the most out of my lap on the Soft compound tyre, so that's encouraging for qualifying. We will go through the data on the long runs this evening and see if we can make further improvements overnight".
Among the most anticipated teams, if not the most anticipated for the Dutch Grand Prix, is certainly McLaren, a team that has shown great growth in the first part of this season, bringing the British team to second place in the Constructors’ World Championship and the same position with Lando Norris. Now, after the summer break, the World Championship resumes at Zandvoort, with McLaren determined to get back in the fight for the title, as shown by the latest updates brought to the Netherlands. On this topic, McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella says:
"We have been able to deliver another substantial update that is not even remotely comparable to what we brought to Miami, but that should guarantee a step forward in terms of aerodynamic efficiency. After Miami, we took some time to see the development. Furthermore, nowadays, there are cost limitations, and one must be diligent. There will be more updates in the next races, and we hope this will help us improve the car’s overall performance to continue competing and achieving good race results. Both drivers will have the updates this weekend. In the first practice sessions, however, they were in different configurations to conduct comparative tests".
McLaren is thus the biggest rival of Red Bull Racing. However, Andrea Stella thinks differently:
"I believe that the performance of our car has been overestimated. Perhaps because we have been competitive on many Fridays, but I think this is the result of the good preparation work done by the team. We are ready for a race weekend, and then we see that Red Bull and Mercedes solve their problems and become competitive on Saturday or Sunday. So I think we should be a bit cautious in thinking that McLaren goes to races and has the fastest car. We need to distinguish this concept from how we exploit the car to get the most out of it and be immediately competitive. That said, we are satisfied with what we have managed to achieve in terms of car competitiveness. I hope these further developments and updates will give us the chance to maintain this competitive position".
Lando Norris is currently in second place in the Drivers’ World Championship, not without some errors that have made him quite self-critical. Regarding this, the McLaren Team Principal says:
"His comments confirm his style. He knows how to be self-critical and sees the glass half empty. In reality, I think he has the potential of a world champion. I believe there have been more opportunities this year in some specific race situations, such as the start and the first lap. Lando can win world titles. As for this year’s, we certainly won't give up. The gap is large, and we are chasing. I don't think having Norris as the first driver is the right approach. There are 10 races left, and he can still win the World Championship. He needs to be fast. Team orders? We will consider them in some cases".
During the summer break, the last doubts about Max Verstappen's stay at Red Bull Racing for the 2025 season were dispelled. Mercedes and Toto Wolff had been keeping a close eye on the Dutch driver, but the recent renewal of Helmut Marko's contract has effectively rendered Verstappen's exit clause, which was linked to the departure of the Austrian manager, null and void. On this matter, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner shows confidence, explaining that there was never a risk of losing Verstappen:
"The situation is as follows: we have been repeating all year that we know the kind of agreement we have with Max. And Max also knows what kind of agreement he has with us. And he is certainly not available for Mercedes and never has been. I’m sure Mercedes has thought carefully about the options at their disposal. And if they choose Antonelli, they should be praised for the risk they are taking with a young driver".
After FP1 at Zandvoort, Helmut Marko also spoke about Liam Lawson, recalibrating his recent statements:
"I believe I said that next year he would be in a Formula 1 car. We have an option on him, but the decision will be made in mid-September".
Therefore, Christian Horner also tries to clarify the situation regarding Liam Lawson’s future:
"Nothing has been decided. At the moment, we still have a few weeks ahead of us to make this decision. Obviously, we know the situation and Checo’s contract. With Daniel (Ricciardo) and Liam, we have some options, but we won’t discuss them publicly until a decision is made".
According to Helmut Marko, even a potential pole position for Lando Norris may not be an advantage for the English McLaren driver:
"I believe the situation is good for qualifying. We haven't fully unleashed the power of the power unit. Even if qualifying ends up being wet, I think we would have a good chance of securing pole position. At that point, even being a few tenths slower in the race shouldn’t be a problem when you're leading the race".
Meanwhile, Christian Horner is counting on Max Verstappen’s performance at his home race:
"Here, Max gains a tenth thanks to the crowd, and we don’t know what engine mappings and fuel loads the opponents were using in FP2. It’s going to be a very competitive weekend".
On Saturday, August 24, 2024, the third and final practice session was hindered by rain, which made the track slippery. During practice, Nico Hülkenberg lost control of his car at the first corner, damaging his front wing, while Logan Sargeant lost control of his Williams at the third corner, crashing violently into the guardrail. His car was destroyed and even caught fire, but the American driver emerged unscathed. The session was halted for a long time to allow the car to be recovered and the barriers repaired. Drivers were later given only two minutes to attempt a valid lap time. The fastest was Pierre Gasly. As expected, based on the reaction of Williams Racing’s Team Principal, James Vowles, after the incident, the situation is such that Logan Sargeant's absence from the subsequent qualifying session is almost a given. The statement published by the team a few minutes after the incident leaves very little hope:
"We are assessing the chassis, but it currently looks okay. We will aim to repair and build up the chassis to be ready for Qualifying. However, with the amount of work to be completed, it will be difficult, but we’ll give it everything".
A few hours later, the qualifying session for the Dutch Grand Prix takes place. In Q1, Nico Hülkenberg is the first driver to set a valid time. After a series of fast laps, Oscar Piastri sets the fastest time, lapping in 1'11"541. However, the time set by the Australian McLaren driver is soon beaten by Lewis Hamilton, while Lando Norris is just 0.002 seconds off his compatriot's time. Ten minutes before the end of Q1, Max Verstappen has yet to set a valid time to qualify, but immediately in his first attempt, he clocks the third fastest time. Meanwhile, the performance of the Scuderia Ferrari cars and drivers does not look good: Carlos Sainz Jr. manages to improve his time but remains only in P12. Pierre Gasly, however, moves up to fifth position, while George Russell records the ninth fastest time. Meanwhile, Nico Hülkenberg moves up to seventh position, pushing Carlos Sainz Jr.'s time to fifteenth on the leaderboard, the last position valid for entry into Q2. Shortly after, Sergio Pérez accuses Lewis Hamilton of impeding him, while Lance Stroll sets the fourth fastest time. Kevin Magnussen is sixth, while Max Verstappen, who makes an error, attempts a new run. In this second phase, the performances are noticeably more competitive: Alexander Albon is fourth and Yuki Tsunoda seventh. Shortly after, Fernando Alonso registers the fourth fastest time. Carlos Sainz Jr., who is at risk of elimination at this stage, sets the fastest time, while Charles Leclerc sets the second fastest time. However, the benchmark set by the Spanish Ferrari driver is soon improved first by George Russell and then by Sergio Pérez. Failing to progress to Q2 are Daniel Ricciardo, Esteban Ocon, Valtteri Bottas, Guanyu Zhou, and, of course, Logan Sargeant, as he did not participate in the qualifying session. During the break between Q1 and Q2, the weather forecast announces a possible chance of rain. For this reason, Scuderia Ferrari decides to send their drivers out as soon as possible, albeit on used tires. Carlos Sainz Jr. completes his first lap in Q2 with a time of 1'11"835, while Charles Leclerc laps in 1'11"665. Shortly after, Oscar Piastri sets the fastest time, clocking in at 1'10"505, followed by Nico Hülkenberg in second place, while Alexander Albon remains behind the two Ferrari drivers. Max Verstappen does not set a better time than Oscar Piastri. However, Lando Norris precedes the Australian driver, lapping in 1'10"496.
Meanwhile, Sergio Pérez sets the fifth fastest time, while Lance Stroll doesn't go beyond fourth place on the leaderboard. Fernando Alonso is in sixth position, while George Russell is third, less than 0.100 seconds from Lando Norris. Shortly after, Lewis Hamilton climbs to fifth place, ahead of Charles Leclerc. All drivers, except the top four, return to the track in the final minutes of the session. Pierre Gasly climbs up to fifth place, followed by Yuki Tsunoda, while Sergio Pérez again sets the fourth fastest time. Alexander Albon also positions himself among the top ten on the leaderboard, as does Fernando Alonso. Shortly after, Lance Stroll moves up to fourth position, while Lewis Hamilton slips to P11, failing to advance to the final phase of qualifying. As Q2 comes to an end, Charles Leclerc records the sixth fastest time, effectively eliminating Carlos Sainz Jr. from the top ten positions. Along with Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz Jr., Yuki Tsunoda, Nico Hülkenberg, and Kevin Magnussen are also eliminated in Q2. When Q3 begins, the McLaren Racing drivers and Max Verstappen are the first to hit the track. Oscar Piastri sets a time of 1'10"193, while Max Verstappen completes his first lap with a time of 1'10"222. Shortly after, Lando Norris sets a time of 1'10"074, moving into first place, while Charles Leclerc, on used tires, laps in 1'10"758. This makes it easy for George Russell to set a better time than the Monegasque Ferrari driver. Sergio Pérez, Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso, and Alexander Albon make only one attempt. The two Aston Martin drivers hit the track when all the other competitors are in the pits, waiting for the final minutes of Q3. On his second attempt, Max Verstappen sets a time of 1'10"029, moving into first place. However, shortly after, Lando Norris again records the fastest time, lapping in 1'09"673, while George Russell sets the fourth fastest time, followed by Sergio Pérez. After a balanced and spectacular qualifying session, the McLaren team celebrates pole position at the Dutch Grand Prix. It was secured by Lando Norris, who was over 0.3s ahead of the local favorite, Max Verstappen. The World Champion, however, clinched an important front row start, placing himself ahead of both the second McLaren of Oscar Piastri and George Russell's Mercedes. The third row is occupied by Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc, with the first of the two Ferraris. Lando Norris dominated the Dutch Grand Prix qualifying, but the English McLaren driver downplayed his achievement, emphasizing that the wind might have been a factor in his favor:
"Fantastic day. It's great to be back and to immediately take pole. Qualifying went smoothly. We put in good laps, especially the last one, which is the most important. Great laps? Actually, it’s more difficult than it seems with the wind. Here, with the wind, you never know what to expect, how much you can push, and where the limits are. But in the end, that's our job. I feel comfortable. The car feels fantastic. We tested updates that we hadn’t brought in a while, and everything is working great. I owe a big thank you to the team".
Lando Norris has started from pole position three times without being able to maintain the lead at the first corner. However, the English driver does not want to be influenced by the recent past:
"Statistics don't mean much to me. They are just numbers on a screen. It’s not like tomorrow I’ll drive to prove people wrong. Everyone can say what they want. I want to win, but I’m not desperate. Desperation doesn’t lead to success. Over the summer, I worked hard, and tomorrow will be the best opportunity to show it. Our race pace was good yesterday, but Verstappen and Russell will be fast. Let's hope we can continue tomorrow what we did today".
Thanks to his front-row start secured in extremis, Max Verstappen can hope to continue his winning streak in the Netherlands, although against this McLaren, it will require a real feat just to keep Oscar Piastri, third in qualifying and 0.5s behind Lando Norris, at bay.
"Today, we didn't have enough pace. I tried everything, and I am very happy with the front row. Here, it’s complicated because of the wind. There are sudden gusts, and every lap gives you different sensations. It’s hard to find the right references. I’m happy with second place; this is a good result. This is the situation at the moment. The car is not the easiest to drive, but overall it was a good lap. Only in turns 11-12 was it difficult. Hopefully, the car will do well in the race tomorrow. On the last lap, I made a mistake at the chicane, but throughout Qualifying, I didn’t feel comfortable. Our car was very sensitive to the wind, and every lap felt different. In Q1 and Q2, I never thought I would be in the top 5. The last seven races have been a bit more difficult for us. We need to try to understand why, but there’s no magic button. Norris? He’s very fast and will continue to improve with experience. I never doubted it. Win? We’ll try. But when you’re 0.3s behind, you have to be realistic. Anyway, we’ll give it a go tomorrow".
In third place, Oscar Piastri will have to try his best to overtake Max Verstappen during the race:
"I didn’t do a good enough job. In Q3, the first run was good, but on the second attempt, in the second half of the lap, I didn’t do what was necessary. The car was good this weekend, I’m sorry not to be further up, but I think I can bring home good points and even a trophy tomorrow. The updates are responding as expected. It’s not the easiest condition to understand how things are going, but the car seemed faster, and I’m happy. The win is not out of reach; the pace was fast in the race simulation. We were fast in the last few weekends as well; let's hope to have a good day tomorrow, starting with the start".
After the gearbox issues that practically prevented him from running during FP2 and after the rain and the very long red flag due to Logan Sargeant's crash in FP3, it was expected that Carlos Sainz Jr. would struggle in qualifying at Zandvoort, considering that for the Spanish Ferrari driver, Q1 was practically his first lap on the Dutch track in dry conditions. It is therefore not surprising that he was eliminated in Q2, ending up in 11th place and will thus start only in the sixth row.
"In this sport, there are no secrets or miracles. With the level of competition on the grid, if you miss the only dry practice session and arrive in qualifying with a dry track, it's tough. I tried everything to get into Q3, but something was missing. If you add to this that we weren’t fast this weekend and I also had Hulkenberg’s traffic in the second sector, in the end, it’s difficult to get into Q3. Tomorrow will be a race of attack to try to climb back up because we will definitely be faster, but it won’t be easy to overtake. We weren’t fast this weekend, and I also paid the price".
Almost a second off on a one-minute and ten-second track. This is the result with which Scuderia Ferrari concludes the qualifying session at the Zandvoort circuit, an even harsher assessment than the sixth place on the grid with Charles Leclerc. What is more significant, however, is that the drivers could not ask for more from this car. Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari HP, Frédéric Vasseur, admitted this:
"Maybe we could have fought with Sergio Perez and perhaps gained another position, but we couldn’t achieve much more. We didn’t expect much from the weekend due to the track layout and the lack of updates. It’s still important to score points because there have been ups and downs this season. It's a difficult path, and we need to score points; we hope to do that tomorrow. Sainz didn’t even do a lap on the soft tires before qualifying, so it’s hard to qualify for Q3. This track is difficult because of the bouncing due to the high-speed corners, like 7 and 8, but we have been struggling more on long corners since the start of the season, just like last year. We’ve made progress on the bouncing, and I hope we’ll make an even bigger step soon, but this is the situation, and we have to deal with the car's limitations. We’ll definitely have better tracks for us from now until the end of the season; the most important thing is to score good points when we are struggling. We didn’t manage to do this in Canada, Spain, and England. If you look, we are 60 points behind Red Bull today (63, actually), and these are almost the points we lost in those Grands Prix. So tomorrow, the goal is to score points, do a good job, and finish as high as possible. I think Carlos will soon recover the pace during the race. With tire management and other aspects, we’re sure he’ll handle the situation. Maybe we can do something in terms of strategy; we’ll see the tire situation on the grid".
However, looking ahead to the race, according to Frédéric Vasseur, it is not impossible to advance a few positions:
"Yesterday, we did the race simulation with just one car, so we gathered less data, but I think Lando Norris was always a step ahead. We were very close to everyone else; the outcome will depend more on the circumstances and the characteristics of the track because tomorrow will be a completely different situation, with cooler temperatures and less wind. When the difference is a few tenths, aside from Norris, the details can make the difference".
It was thought that the third row might be a realistic result for Scuderia Ferrari to aim for in qualifying, and indeed this is what Charles Leclerc achieved:
"It was a good lap, but unfortunately there are days when this doesn’t pay off much. Sixth place is not what makes me smile. As a team, we are struggling a bit and are working hard. I’m sorry because every time I come to the microphones, I repeat myself from a few races ago. I keep saying we’re giving our best to try to close the gap, and today the situation is what it is. I gave it my all and tried everything. As a team, we are aware of the situation".
After the Dutch Grand Prix, the Italian Grand Prix will be held, where Scuderia Ferrari should introduce new updates on the SF-24s:
"We are working hard on the new car parts that will arrive soon, and I hope this will allow us to get closer to those ahead because today the gap is 9 tenths, and that’s really a lot. There will be a step, but how big it will be, time will tell. This track doesn’t suit our car’s characteristics. We are struggling in long corners, but tomorrow we will try to get as many points as possible. In the end, that’s our goal until the updates arrive, which I hope will bring us forward. Tomorrow, a podium would be a miracle on such a track: the race pace wasn’t bad, but overtaking here is impossible".
The results from Free Practice seemed to indicate that Mercedes was one of the teams in contention for pole position at the Zandvoort circuit, but the outcome was quite different from expectations. Beyond the unexpected twelfth place secured by Lewis Hamilton and the overall disappointment expressed by Mercedes Team Principal, Toto Wolff, the only consolation comes from the performance of George Russell, who will start from the fourth position on the grid:
"It is always mentally challenging when you go out and do not find the feeling you expected. You find yourself at the bottom of the rankings, and it seems like you could be eliminated in Q1. You have to reset everything, and in the end, I was strong; I think I was second. Q2 went well, still behind the McLarens, while Q3 did not live up to expectations. I expected to do better, but in the end, fourth place is a fair result. Anything is possible for the race; I think McLaren is realistically ahead of everyone. We are doing a great job with the new updates, but unfortunately, McLaren is improving at the same pace as us. We are distancing ourselves from the mid-field positions by reducing the gap to Red Bull and McLaren, which in turn are surpassing Red Bull in terms of performance. We have to keep working hard, but at the moment, I am in a great position".
After the positive signs during Friday's Free Practice, Lewis Hamilton failed to reach the top 10 in Q2, which would have allowed him to fight for pole position in the third and final session, qualifying only twelfth, behind the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz Jr.. A misstep that costs the British driver dearly, especially considering the difficulty of overtaking on a track like this. This outcome leads the Briton to think ahead to the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, scheduled for the following week:
"The balance became more and more snappy, increasingly oversteering. It was terrible. It’s definitely very, very frustrating, but that's how it is. It is tough now. The weekend is over, and we have to move on to next week".
The Mercedes team can take some solace from George Russell's fourth place, but this result does not satisfy the Team Principal. Toto Wolff, who would have expected an overall better result, stated:
"We hoped to do better; looking at the previous sessions, we were almost always in the top three. Then, however, we had a car that was on the edge. It was very difficult to manage during the lap. There was a lot of understeer, sudden oversteer, and once you exceeded the temperature thresholds, there was no more performance. That's why there was a crazy moment when Lewis fell in Q2. Even with George’s P4, which I believe was the maximum he could do, we are not happy with this performance".
As if that weren't enough, at the end of the qualifying session, Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Pérez were summoned by the stewards because the British driver impeded the Mexican driver at turn 9 during Q1. After hearing from both drivers, Lewis Hamilton was penalized with a three-place grid penalty. But the negative surprises don't end there. This day is perhaps the darkest for the Williams Racing team in the entire 2024 World Championship. In the morning, Logan Sargeant wrecked the car in FP3, preventing him from participating in qualifying despite all the efforts of the mechanics. In the afternoon, Alexander Albon achieved an unexpected eighth place, but with an irregular car. After inspections by the FIA, the floor of Alexander Albon's car was found to be non-compliant with Article 3.5.1 of the technical regulations. The Thai driver was therefore disqualified from the qualifying session but was permitted to start the Grand Prix by the stewards. Acknowledging the compliance error, Williams Racing Team Principal James Vowles openly stated:
"The car's performance was positive. We are in a situation where the updates are yielding good results, and in a very tight midfield pack, we were able to bring the car into Q3 and into a position to score points in today's race".
So he adds:
"This is also reflected in the long run on Friday, which was once again positive. The car stood out in the midfield, and at some points, the long run overlapped with that of Ferrari, a very different situation from where we were at the beginning of the season. As positive as this is, the fact is we were disqualified for a floor that was too wide, and my job here today is to examine what happened and what we are doing to immediately address the situation. The floor we have here this weekend, actually the entire bodywork and several elements, are all new. It is not the first time we have been scanned. We have obviously followed and adhered to all these procedures since they were introduced several years ago, and we have never been found in excess until now. We now use scanning techniques rather than physical measurement techniques because it is not just a single point to account for, but rather the heights and widths of quite complex shapes. Before coming here, we scanned the floor and the car multiple times. This happened at the factory; it also happened here on Thursday, and we showed the FIA all these results that indicated our floor was in compliance with the rules. But what matters is the FIA's judgment, with its measurements and systems, which we fully accept. Now we need to understand how we could have gotten our measurements wrong and what we need to change in terms of process with immediate effect. There is only one area of the car that we did not comply with, and that is easily fixable. But in any case, the rule is the rule, and in this sense, it is black or white. We cannot spend hours of work developing an update package and ask our drivers to give their all to secure a top-10 finish only to throw it all away by not adhering to all regulatory limits. No one is responsible for this but ourselves; it is a responsibility that falls on our shoulders. No one else, outside of us, has any responsibility. We need to address and resolve the issue with immediate effect. This race weekend, we still have a strong enough car to compete with our rivals. I am excited about today’s prospects because the car remains fast, and we have the opportunity to race. Beyond this, there are nine more races in which we have to always strive for perfection to score points and fight for the championship. This is not the standard I want us to adhere to this weekend, but now we need to change the process to ensure this does not happen again".
On Sunday, August 25, 2024, before the start of the Dutch Grand Prix, all teams fit medium tires on their cars, except for Racing Bull, which fits soft tires on Yuki Tsunoda's car. The same goes for Mercedes, fitting soft tires on Lewis Hamilton's car, and Stake, which fits them on Valtteri Bottas's car. At the start of the race, both McLaren drivers get off to a poor start: Lando Norris immediately loses the first position to Max Verstappen, and George Russell overtakes Oscar Piastri. Behind the Australian driver are Charles Leclerc, Sergio Pérez, Pierre Gasly, Fernando Alonso, and Carlos Sainz Jr. Max Verstappen seems unable to widen the gap on Lando Norris, who remains within two seconds. On lap 8, Carlos Sainz Jr. overtakes Fernando Alonso, and three laps later, after a long duel, he also overtakes Pierre Gasly. Meanwhile, Lando Norris reduces the gap separating him from Max Verstappen and, on lap 18, overtakes the Dutch driver, reclaiming first position. The English McLaren driver also manages to immediately create a small gap between himself and the World Champion. On lap 24, Lewis Hamilton pits for the first stop, after closing in on tenth position during the first stint of the race. On lap 25, Charles Leclerc also returns to the pits. The Monegasque driver is the first among the front-runners to switch to hard tires. With this move, the Ferrari driver gains a position over George Russell, who pits a lap later and, due to a less than perfect pit stop by his team, re-enters the track behind the Monegasque driver. Max Verstappen and Lando Norris pit between laps 28 and 29. Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri moves into first place. The Australian driver, in his McLaren, makes his pit stop on lap 34. In this way, Lando Norris returns to the front of the pack, ahead of Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, George Russell, his teammate Oscar Piastri, Sergio Pérez, Carlos Sainz Jr., and Lewis Hamilton. On lap 40, Oscar Piastri overtakes George Russell, reclaiming fourth position. Meanwhile, Lando Norris increases his lead over Max Verstappen, extending it to 11.5 seconds. Shortly after, Oscar Piastri also catches up with Charles Leclerc. On lap 49, Lewis Hamilton makes his second pit stop. The Mercedes team decides to fit soft tires. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz Jr. reduces the gap to George Russell. But just as the Spanish driver seems able to overtake his opponent, on lap 55, the British driver makes his second pit stop.
George Russell re-enters the track in seventh position, behind Sergio Pérez. During the final laps of the Dutch Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc manages to maintain his position, despite Oscar Piastri, now very close to the Monegasque driver, trying in every way to move into third place. Meanwhile, Lando Norris continues his race unchallenged in first position, with a wide margin over Max Verstappen, even setting the fastest lap on the last lap. Lando Norris delivered an impressive performance to win his second Grand Prix of 2024, making history as the first driver to beat Max Verstappen on his home soil. The British McLaren driver dominated the race, making only a mistake at the start before driving away to a commanding solo victory. This victory is a clear demonstration of the current superiority of the MCL38 over its competitors.
"Thank you, it’s fantastic. It wasn’t a perfect race because of the first lap, once again. But after that, everything went well, and the car was incredible. I felt comfortable and could push. I passed Max - which was the most important thing - and then I was able to just focus on my race. It was a straightforward race, though it’s always challenging, but it was very enjoyable. Orange? We have so many fans here! Jokes aside, I also have a lot of Dutch fans, and I thank them as well. From lap 5 or 6, I expected Max to gain an advantage. When he didn’t, I realized we could fight. He was losing ground while my pace increased. When I passed him, I knew I could push".
After several races where the British driver had been hard on himself due to some errors that cost him potential victories, it was finally time to celebrate:
"This win helps. I don’t need anything, it’s not like I was desperate, even though people like to make up these things. I think I’m quite patient; I go on track and do what I can. I don’t care about tomorrow or the next weekend; I focus on the moment to do my job on track and enjoy the race like I did today. I’m happy with what I’ve done because it was a great race. It’s a step forward, and it feels great to get my second win in F1. It’s a fantastic feeling, and I feel on top of the world. It’s a great way to start the second half of the season".
Despite his celebration, there was once again the risk of finishing behind Max Verstappen at the start:
"I still don’t know the reason; I don’t know if it was my fault or the team’s, maybe both. It didn’t go well today, but I hope to do better next time. We haven’t created a gap with Red Bull; we need to be patient. Let’s not get too excited; it’s just one race. Today, we were faster than Red Bull, but I think it was more Red Bull having a bad day than us having an incredible day. We need to be patient. It was a good day, the car performed very well, and we certainly made a step forward, but I don’t want to get too excited. This weekend is over, and now we think about the next one".
Max Verstappen had to settle for second place on the podium:
"You always try to do your best. We started well and tried everything today, but I think it was clear on track that we weren’t fast enough. I tried to at least finish second. The start? I was confident because we always start well. But then the race happened, and the situation was what it was: I could only finish second. I’m not surprised by how I felt in the car; there was nothing I could do. During the race, I even said over the radio that the car wasn’t responding to my inputs. It’s hard to understand why".
Even though Max Verstappen started perfectly, as usual, he couldn’t do anything against McLaren’s superior pace. The Dutch driver acknowledged this and, at the end of the race, his expression showed a lot of concern for the outcome of this World Championship, despite his 70-point lead over his friend and rival:
"I didn’t expect to win. On Friday and after qualifying, I knew it would be a very tough task. I tried everything, and the start was good; I took the lead, but it quickly became clear that it wasn’t possible to stay in front, it was very difficult. I tried to run my race; I found myself in no man's land because at some points I had a certain advantage, but I was quite behind, and the gap was wide. Towards the end, I was catching up, but nothing exciting. The gap to Lando is big, and it’s something I don’t like to see, but it’s the reality at the moment. It will be very tough to stay on top in both championships. We need to start winning races again to control the standings; we can’t rely on anything else. There are many things to analyze and review, which is what we need to do".
Lando Norris’s victory in the Dutch Grand Prix marks McLaren’s eleventh consecutive podium this season, with either the British driver or his teammate Oscar Piastri occupying a top-3 position since the Chinese Grand Prix. This result, combined with Red Bull Racing’s five-race winless streak, allows the British team to further close the gap on their rivals in the Constructors' Championship, trailing by 30 points with nine races remaining in the season. McLaren’s comeback and constant improvements show no signs of slowing down, much to the delight of Team Principal Andrea Stella:
"It was a very positive weekend, in some ways beyond our expectations. We knew the updates would bring some lap time and that this track is somewhat in the Barcelona-Hungary class, where we had performed well in the past, but yesterday’s qualifying performance and today’s race performance were above expectations, which is a good way to be surprised. Adding to that is Lando’s performance, which was outstanding throughout the weekend. He always stayed in control, maximizing the material he had available. In the race, he remained patient even after losing position at the start, regaining it with an overtaking move. There will be many maturity tests throughout his career. The growth trend, even for Lando, is very consistent, and he has fully demonstrated this".
The Italian engineer adds, speaking about Lando Norris:
"Lando is always very critical of himself. When he looks back on this season, he will see those two or three occasions where he could have done better. This weekend, we discussed with him the period when Michael Schumacher won his sixth title. In Japan, he had a completely unnecessary incident with Sato, where he lost the front wing. It was an opportunity to improve for someone who was winning his sixth title. What makes the difference is the attitude towards these opportunities, the mindset to try to improve at every single opportunity".
McLaren Could Have Potentially Finished the Dutch Grand Prix with Both Drivers on the Podium, but the Race Ended with Oscar Piastri in Fourth Place and Charles Leclerc Unexpectedly Finishing in the Top Three:
"The podium with Oscar today was definitely possible, certainly from a performance point of view. We lost the chance for the podium at the start by losing position, and then Ferrari did well with an undercut with Leclerc. I have to say we weren’t too keen on preventing the undercut because we didn’t want to start the sequence of pit stops and put Lando under pressure, so Ferrari did well to gain the position on Oscar and keep it. We thought we could overtake with a 10-lap tire delta, but it wasn’t possible. However, we are encouraged by the performance and look forward to the next races with optimism, including for Oscar".
At the end of the race, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner commented bitterly on Max Verstappen's performance, who had a strong start from the front row.
"You couldn't have done more; you limited the damage".
For two laps, the Dutch driver tried to stay close to McLaren's Lando Norris, but then he fell back without particularly shining in the next stint on Hard tires.
"The decision to give Verstappen's car more aerodynamic downforce didn't pay off. He couldn't defend himself on the straights, and there was still tire degradation. Perez was faster than Max in the second stint. McLaren was very strong this weekend. We need to work on it; I believe this race taught us something".
However, Christian Horner does not believe Max Verstappen's lead in the Drivers' Championship is in danger:
"This is only the fourth time this year that his lead has decreased. We need to keep scoring points, and on days when you can't win, second place is the best possible result. Obviously, it's not nice to be beaten by 22 seconds, but it's a demonstration that when the car is set up well, as we saw at the start of the year, this type of result is possible. So, it doesn't scare us in any way, but it just makes us realize that we need to change things, and we need to do things right".
On the other hand, Red Bull Racing's external consultant, Helmut Marko, is very frank in admitting that in the Netherlands, the team was not up to the level of their rivals.
"The gap is alarming. The fastest lap on the last lap without DRS is proof of how superior McLaren was with Norris. Nine second places won't be enough. It's clear that our engineers need to come up with something. We had significant tire degradation, and at one point, Verstappen started sliding all over the place".
On the third step of the podium, we have Charles Leclerc, who performed a defensive masterpiece by managing to hold off the other McLaren of Oscar Piastri for almost half the race, despite Piastri having much newer tires than the Monegasque driver.
"I’m very surprised, which is why on Saturday I thought a podium was a miracle because I didn’t think it was possible. A miracle is all well and good, but we need to understand it; I don’t believe in miracles just because it was our day. We did something good with the car, but we absolutely need to understand what held us back in qualifying and what helped us in the race. The difference is huge. Yesterday, we were 9 tenths behind McLaren, while today 0.2-0.3 seconds per lap is still a big difference but much closer to what we expected. We need to understand, but having said that, we have two or three days before Monza, and we’ll do our best to understand this difference. I don’t want to make the fans dream too much and then disappoint them. Realistically, today was a very pleasant surprise, but that means little for Monza because they are two different tracks. I hope that Monza’s Saturday will be more positive than Zandvoort’s. We’ll also have updates that I hope will help us get closer. After Friday at Monza, I might be able to tell the fans a bit more about whether they can dream or if it’s better to be cautious".
Ferrari can leave the Zandvoort track with a smile, despite a weekend that had been disastrous until Saturday. Even his teammate, Carlos Sainz Jr., managed to climb back up to an unexpected fifth-place finish:
"After qualifying, I was a bit pessimistic and a bit disappointed with how the day and weekend had gone. But today, right after the formation lap on the grid, I felt that the car with a full fuel load was a bit better than yesterday when it was lighter, and I felt that we could do something better than our predictions, which were to finish in seventh or eighth position".
Continuing with his analysis, Carlos Sainz Jr. explains how the deciding factor for the performance of the SF-24 is not the amount of fuel:
"I finished only six or seven seconds from the podium despite starting from tenth position, so I think it was a really good performance. It’s not down to the amount of fuel, though; it’s something to do with the tires, the tire window, and the way we switched them on in qualifying to protect them in the race because clearly today we managed to keep them alive and push them quite hard in the race, while the others seemed to have more difficulty managing them. I managed to pass a Red Bull on such a difficult track, which shows that the car was set up well and that I was driving very well, so yes, I’m very proud of that".
Frédéric Vasseur was right in saying that the Dutch Grand Prix would offer completely different conditions compared to the performance shown in qualifying. Ferrari indeed showed unexpected potential, delivering a convincing race pace compared to expectations and even securing that podium that Charles Leclerc had called miraculous after qualifying:
"It was a great race. We came in saying we weren’t very optimistic for the Zandvoort weekend. Qualifying was difficult for both drivers, but today went very well with a good start, a good strategy, good pit stops, and excellent tire management by both drivers. Charles managed to keep Piastri behind despite Piastri having a tire advantage since we had pitted much earlier. We have to be positive and appreciate the result, keeping in mind that Norris finished much further ahead, and we need to focus on winning, not on third place. Putting Norris aside, it’s about tenths, and it’s true that sometimes you find a positive dynamic without pushing too much on the tires. We already had the feeling on Friday that we were in better shape with used tires than with new ones. Today it was clear, and it was a positive weekend. Now we need to build the rest of the season on these foundations because we still have nine races to go with some tracks suited to our characteristics and a new package coming. Certainly, this result is positive for the team’s confidence. We know that in Monza we will probably be in better conditions in terms of the track. After 72 laps, we finished five seconds behind Max, considering we started four positions behind him. It’s a positive step, but not enough because we are not in F1 to finish third. However, it is a good step forward for us".
The Mercedes team had won three of the last four races before the summer break and had finished the Belgian Grand Prix with its cars in first and second positions, excluding George Russell's disqualification. However, at Zandvoort, the Anglo-German team disappointed expectations. George Russell, who finished seventh after starting fourth and was forced by the team into an unusual two-stop strategy, said at the end of the race:
"Today's race was strange. We didn't have pace, and this was true on all three tire compounds. I felt like I was sliding a lot, suffering from high degradation, and slowly losing ground. We need to understand why, given that on Saturday, we were relatively quick. Performance varies from circuit to circuit, but in the last six races, we have always been close to the front. So, I am confident this was an anomaly. We will get to work right away to understand why we were slower than our rivals today. Next weekend, we have another race at Monza, and we aim to get a better result".
Ironically, Lewis Hamilton had a better race, finishing eighth - behind George Russell - but after starting from P14 on the grid:
"We knew today was about damage limitation. We managed to get back into the points, but in the end, we didn't have the pace to fight for anything more today. If we had qualified better yesterday, maybe things would have gone a bit differently. I enjoyed overtaking several cars and taking advantage of the Soft tires in the initial stint. I’m a bit disappointed because if we had had a better Saturday, the fight would have been to score more points".
The British driver also gave his opinion regarding the strategies, which saw him also being forced by the team to stop twice to change tires:
"We wanted to go to the end with just one stop, but I had a lock-up on the hard tires, so we switched to a two-stop strategy. It was a shame to lose the point for the fastest lap at the end, but I should have managed to set a faster one earlier".
The particular legal issue involving Haas, opposed by its former main sponsor Uralkali, may be resolved on Monday, August 26, 2024, during these days of stay in Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix. The Russian petrochemical giant is awaiting payment from the American team of about $13 million, which a Swiss arbitration court ordered the team to return following the termination of the sponsorship agreement that bound the two parties until March 2022, shortly after Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. The Haas team reportedly made the payment to Uralkali on Friday, but since the banks are closed over the weekend, the actual receipt of the money can only be verified on Monday morning. The team led by Ayao Komatsu is therefore preparing all the material for departure but will only be able to move its trucks on Monday when Uralkali actually receives the money owed.