The Formula 1 season is currently in its summer break, but fans are eager for the return of action at the end of this month. The first 14 races of 2024 have been thrilling, with seven different drivers from teams such as Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull securing victories. Red Bull's Max Verstappen is among the highlights.
When Does F1 Return?
The next race on the calendar is the Dutch Grand Prix at the Zandvoort Circuit, marking the 15th race of the season and the start of the second half of the year. The race will take place on Sunday, August 25, 2024, with the start times as follows:
- 14:00 BST
- 15:00 CEST
- 09:00 ET
- 23:00 AEST
Complete Weekend Schedule
The Dutch Grand Prix weekend runs from August 23 to 25, with the following sessions scheduled:
- Friday, August 23:
- Practice 1: 11:30 BST / 06:30 ET / 08:30 AEST
- Practice 2: 15:00 BST / 10:00 ET / 12:00 AEST
- Saturday, August 24:
- Practice 3: 10:30 BST / 05:30 ET / 07:30 AEST
- Qualifying: 14:00 BST / 09:00 ET / 12:00 AEST
- Sunday, August 25:
- Race: 14:00 BST / 09:00 ET / 22:00 AEST
Tire Compounds for the Dutch GP
Pirelli has selected some of the hardest tire compounds for the Dutch GP due to the high temperatures and abrasive nature of the track. The available compounds are:
- Hard – C1
- Medium – C2
- Soft – C3
The C1 compound was introduced in 2023 to fill the gap between the previous C1 and C2 tires, thus offering a more balanced option for the teams. As a result, the C2 and C1 tires are expected to be the main choices during the race, due to their durability over the 66 laps. Additionally, the C3 compound is expected to be used mainly during qualifying, providing optimized performance on fast laps.
Location of the Dutch Grand Prix
The Dutch Grand Prix takes place at the Zandvoort Circuit, a track with a long and rich history dating back to 1952. However, the circuit was temporarily removed from the Formula 1 calendar in 1985. After a significant overhaul, the Zandvoort Circuit made its triumphant return to F1 in 2021. Currently, the track length is 4.259 km. Additionally, Lewis Hamilton holds the lap record with an impressive time of 1:11.097, set during the 2021 race.
Summary of the 2023 Dutch GP
The 2023 Dutch Grand Prix stood out for its extreme weather conditions and the debut of Liam Lawson with AlphaTauri, following Daniel Ricciardo's injury. The race started under heavy rain, which continued to challenge the teams throughout the event. Max Verstappen thus maintained the lead from the start, while many drivers struggled with tire choices amidst the wet conditions. Additionally, a red flag was briefly waved due to worsening weather conditions.
During the race, three drivers faced penalties: Yuki Tsunoda for causing a collision, Sergio Perez for speeding in the pit lane, and Kevin Magnussen for being too far behind the safety car. Despite Fernando Alonso securing the fastest lap, he finished in second place, while Verstappen claimed victory.
