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Wakey, wakey… Summer break’s over, and it’s time to go racing again. Whether you were working, sunbathing, exploring or simply clock-watching during Formula 1’s summer shutdown, we hope you used the time wisely. With 10 races in the next 14 weeks, it’s set to be a busy second half of the season, so we’ll need the Papaya Army in top form and full of energy. 

That all starts this weekend, but don’t worry, we’ll be easing you back in gently with a lovely trip to the seaside for the Dutch Grand Prix.  

Lando and Oscar were back at McLaren HQ this week, showing off their tans, catching up with the team and getting reacquainted with the simulator. To get you as ready for a return to racing as they are, we asked them for their thoughts ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, along with some words of wisdom from our Team Principal, Andrea Stella.  

We’ve also compiled a guide to Circuit Zandvoort, a pack full of fascinating facts and stats, and a reminder of what happened at the Belgium Grand Prix last time out.

Critical info

Round	14
Where	Circuit Zandvoort
When	25 - 27 August
Lights out	15:00 local
Follow	The website and the McLaren App for LIVE commentary and team radio

"We're back! I had a great time over the summer break, spending time with friends and family, and of course I played some golf too. I'm now feeling refreshed and ready to go racing again as we head straight into a double-header. First up, Zandvoort. It’s a really fun circuit to drive with lots of banking allowing for different racing lines. There’s always a great atmosphere there as well, which makes the weekend even more exciting.

“The team have done a great job of improving the car over the first part of the season, and I’ve been back in the factory this week working with the team to try and ensure we can keep that momentum up. Despite this being a challenging track, we aim to do our best and continue bringing in points for the team." 

"I'm looking forward to getting back to racing after some time off for the summer break. I had a nice time away on holiday, enjoying the sun and I feel recharged ahead of going into this second half of the season.

"Next up is the Dutch GP. Zandvoort is a new track for me, so I’ve been working hard in the sim with the engineers to get as prepared as possible for the weekend. I'm feeling ready and excited to get back into the car and see all the Papaya fans in the stands. Let's bring home good results."

Life's a beach

Zandvoort is a cosy little coastal town in the Netherlands. Its circuit, in contrast, is fast, furious, and unforgiving. The Dutch track dates back to 1948, hosting races from 1952 to 1985, and even after several modifications were made ahead of its return to the F1 calendar in 2021, it remains expectedly old-school.

Circuit Zandvoort is a real driver’s track: a lap of the 4.259km, 14-corner circuit feels like a rollercoaster ride with twists, turns, and elevation changes, making qualifying a must-watch.

The track is famous for its 18-degree banked corner at the end of the circuit - approximately double that of the banking at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – but there are several notable sections, including the fast and sweeping Tarzan hairpin and Hugenholtbocht, both of which provide overtaking opportunities.

But the circuit isn’t the widest, and so even in those sections, overtaking can be a bit tricky. Things are made more interesting by a short pit-lane, which makes multiple stops more possible and therefore provides teams with more choice when it comes to strategy.

Last time out

Taking 86 points from the last four rounds, you can’t say that we hadn’t earned our summer break. In the final round before the shutdown, Oscar secured his first trophy in Formula 1, finishing second in the F1 Sprint after missing out on pole by only 11 milliseconds.

The Aussie rookie endured a more frustrating race on the Sunday, as he suffered damage at the start and was forced to retire. On the other side of the garage, Lando dropped to P19 after an early pit-stop but put on an almighty drive to fight through the field for seventh at the flag.

Setting the scene

Zandvoort offers the best of both worlds.  

If you prefer a beach holiday to a city break, Zandvoort’s seaside location, lined with stunning white sandy beaches, will make this the ideal grand prix for you. Or, if you prefer to get lost in the hustle and bustle of a big city, you’re less than 30 minutes away from Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands.

Although there are plenty of places to relax, don’t expect it to be quiet once the weekend starts, with the lively Dutch crowd guaranteed to produce a party atmosphere.

The Netherlands is home to rich and tangy cheeses and tasty savoury snacks such as bitterballen, but no Dutch food is as famous in Formula 1 as the legendary stroopwaffle. The small, round waffle cookie is a staple of the paddock and a must-try whether you’re attending the race or just wanting to sample the local cuisine from home.

"Summer break is over and it's time to go racing again. It's been good for the team to take some time off and reset ahead of the final 10 races of the season, after the efforts in the first half of the season. The last four races saw us achieving strong results, but also highlighted some areas where we need to improve."

"Zandvoort is one of the shorter tracks of the year but dense of interesting corners. The circuit features a unique, undulating nature through the sand dunes and is a challenging course. Thanks to the relentless work of the team, we have made significant improvements since the start of the season, and we aim to start the second half of the season on a positive note."

Set your alarms 

Free Practice 1	06:30 ET / 11:30 BST / 20:30 AET
Free Practice 2	10:00 ET / 15:00 BST / 00:00 AET
Free Practice 3	05:30 ET / 10:30 BST / 19:30 AET
Qualifying	09:00 ET / 14:00 BST / 23:00 AET
Race	09:00 ET / 14:00 BST / 23:00 AET

Stat pack

• We have won the Dutch Grand Prix three times from 33 races

• James Hunt, Alain Prost and Niki Lauda all won at Zandvoort for McLaren

• Niki Lauda’s Dutch Grand Prix win in 1985 was his last victory in F1

• In the same race in 1985, Alain Prost set a new lap record of 1m16.538s, which stood until the race returned in 2021 after a 30-year hiatus

• Lando took two wins and a podium at Zandvoort in his 2017 European Formula 3 campaign

• McLaren have scored points in each of the last four rounds

• Lando has finished in the points seven times this season

• We have more points at this stage of the season (103) than at the same stage in 2022 (89)

The fit: Summer essentials

T-shirts, hoodies, sunglassess, bucket hats and more! Get everything you need to represent the team in the second-half of the season with up to 30% off in our summer sale here.

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