Dutch GP

• Track features

  Fans will rightly point to Zandvoort’s famous banking as the circuit’s defining feature, but before we get onto that, there are many other notable sections of this high-octane 14-corner circuit.

  Starting with the run down to Turn 1, better known as Tarzan. Tarzan is a sweeping 180-degree hairpin that takes cars left and then right through Gerlach and straight into the circuit’s next notable corner: Hugenholtbocht, a banked hairpin. All three turns provide overtaking opportunities at the start of the lap, coming off the back of a DRS zone down the main straight.

  Overtaking outside of that section can be tricky, admittedly, given the track’s narrow nature, but it’s a thrill ride nonetheless, with cars taken up and down in a rollercoaster-like nature through twists and turns.

  It’s also interesting from a strategic perspective, as the short pit lane gives teams the choice of multiple pit stops.

  Ohh, and of course, there’s the banking… The renowned final corner is 18 degrees - roughly double that of the banking at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway - which allows a car to maintain higher speeds while cornering and makes for a stunning sight.

• What's it like in Zandvoort?

  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.

• F1 icebreaker

  Stuck for conversation with your F1-loving friends? Spark up a discussion with our F1 icebreaker…

  Niki Lauda’s Dutch Grand Prix win in 1985 was his final victory in Formula 1. In the same race, his teammate Alain Prost set a new lap record of 1m16.538s, which stood until the race returned in 2021 after a 30-year hiatus.