More than 100,000 fans are set to descend on Zandvoort for this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, and Daniel says he can't wait to experience the festival-like atmosphere again. Although, the Aussie ace added that he's wary of preserving his energy during the current European triple-header.

The return of the Dutch Grand Prix was amongst the highlights of the 2021 campaign, with a sell-out sea of orange creating an electric party-esque experience. Hailing the Dutch fans' frenzied, feverish support, Daniel said that he's expecting them to produce a similarly special weekend on the North Sea coastline.

"I have a lot of Dutch friends who are very energetic and enthusiastic about life," said Daniel. "If you want to find a group of people to have a good time, the Dutch are certainly a group who will take you up on that offer.

"I think that it is emphasised and heightened with Max [Verstappen], their support for him, and the fact he is fighting for a Championship. They have also got a very big music culture in the Netherlands, and some of the biggest DJs in the world are Dutch. The whole atmosphere feels like a bit of a house festival, which is another of the reasons why it's so cool. I feel like I got amongst it last year."

It wasn't solely the support that sparked the intoxicating atmosphere in 2021, with an updated Circuit Zandvoort proving to be a tough test for the grid. It's a rollercoaster of highs, lows, twists and turns, barely wide enough to squeeze a Formula 1 car between, making it high-risk, high-reward.

It also features an oval-style that is American-esque, with banking added at several corners ahead of its return in 2021 that promote side-by-side racing.

"It is fast, flowing, quite narrow, and there are some crazy banked corners," continued Daniel. "There's a real old-school feel about it. It is narrow and fast, and there is not much edge to play with, so I think that is where it gets a lot of its character.

"That all makes it really fun for qualifying. It is a bit tighter in the race, but it is a wild circuit to go on. Plus, it is pretty much on the ocean front."

With the race taking place during a triple-header, the Aussie was keen to stress the importance of maintaining his energy levels for the next week's Italian Grand Prix and beyond, with eight races to come in the next 12 weeks.

Asked how his approach differs during such a busy period, Daniel explained: "Conservation. I try to conserve energy. I think once you get to Monza, you are pretty fried.

"You want to come out after the summer break with a lot of energy, but it is like 'okay, just keep a lid on it'. You want to try and be solid for the three, as opposed to having peaks and troughs. You need to enjoy it, but without burning yourself out too much."

Join the team

McLaren Plus is our free-to-join fan engagement programme, bringing McLaren fans closer to the team with the most inclusive, rewarding and open-to-all fan programmes in motorsport.

Sign up now, or current members can amend their details in the form below if necessary.