1116th F1 GRAND PRIX | 38th DUTCH GRAND PRIX | 38th GRAND PRIX AT ZANDVOORT
2023 POLESITTER: MAX VERSTAPPEN | 2023 WINNER: MAX VERSTAPPEN
Zandvoort returned to the Formula 1 calendar after a 36-year absence in 2021, with Max Verstappen delivering home wins in each of the last three years. The 2024 Dutch Grand Prix is set to take place on August 23-25.
2024 DUTCH GRAND PRIX: WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday August 23
Free Practice 1 – 12:30pm Local Time / 11:30am UK Time
Free Practice 2 – 4:00pm Local Time / 3:00pm UK Time
Saturday August 24
Free Practice 3 – 11:30pm Local Time / 10:30am UK Time
Qualifying – 3:00pm Local Time / 2:00pm UK Time
Sunday August 25
The 2024 Dutch Grand Prix – 3:00pm Local Time / 2:00pm UK Time
2024 DUTCH GRAND PRIX: WEEKEND MILESTONES
If Max Verstappen wins the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix from pole position, he would equal the record for the most consecutive wins from pole position at a single circuit. There have been only three occasions on which a driver has won from pole position for four successive races at a track. Ayrton Senna did so at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps from 1988 to 1991, Michael Schumacher did so at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from 2001 to 2004 and Verstappen did so himself at Yas Marina Circuit from 2020 to 2023.
Having won all three races at Zandvoort since the Dutch Grand Prix re-joined the calendar in 2021, Max Verstappen has three victories at the circuit. Another win this weekend would see Verstappen equal Jim Clark’s record of four Dutch Grand Prix wins – a record which Clark has held outright since 1965.
Max Verstappen currently shares the record for most pole positions at Zandvoort with Rene Arnoux. Another pole at the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix would be a record-breaking fourth for Verstappen.
READ MORE IN MILESTONES AND RECORDS TO BREAK
ZANDVOORT TRACK GUIDE
With Verstappen fever reaching an all-time high, Zandvoort returned as the host of the Dutch Grand Prix in 2021 after a 36-year absence from the Formula 1 calendar.
Unusually located for a racing circuit, Circuit Zandvoort can be found to the east of Amsterdam, next to the North Sea, in the sand dunes of the seaside town of Zandvoort. The town of Zandvoort hosted street racing prior to the start of World War II, with a number of minor street races taking place on the streets of the coastal town in 1939 – the first being on June 3, 1939.
The onset of war prevented racing from taking place for around ten years, though tentative plans for a permanent racing circuit had already been drawn up. Following the German invasion of the Netherlands in World War II, the Germans had constructed roads through the sand dunes. After the war, these roads were widened and linked together. The Royal Dutch Motorcycle Association sought advice from Sammy Davis – winner of the 1927 24 Hours of Le Mans – and together designed the Zandvoort circuit.
The Zandvoort track opened its doors for the first time on August 7 1948. The circuit hosted the first so-called ‘Zandvoort Grand Prix’ in 1949, which was won by Prince Bira, before staging the inaugural Dutch Grand Prix in 1950. Both this edition and the 1951 Dutch Grand Prix were won by Louis Rosier. Neither were run as rounds of the World Championship. Instead, Zandvoort first appeared on the Formula 1 calendar in 1952.
READ MORE IN OUR ULTIMATE TRACK GUIDE
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2024 DUTCH GRAND PRIX
WHAT HAS CHANGED AT THE CIRCUIT SINCE LAST YEAR?
Since F1’s last visit to Zandvoort, there have been minor track changes. The barriers at Turn 6 have been realigned and there are new concrete walls with FIA fencing at Turns 10 and 11. In addition, the pit lane building has been extend to include an extra six garages.
HOW MANY DRS ZONES WILL THERE BE AT THE 2024 DUTCH GRAND PRIX?
Like last year, there are two DRS zones at the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix. Activation zones are after Turn 13 and between Turns 10 & 11.
WHO WILL BE IN THE 2024 DUTCH GRAND PRIX PRESS CONFERENCES?
The world’s media will have the opportunity to talk to the drivers ahead of the on-track action. The drivers appearing in the press conference for this race are:
- Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
Zhou Guanyu (Sauber)
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - George Russell (Mercedes)
Yuki Tsunoda (RB)
Logan Sargeant (Williams)
The media will also be talking to prominent members of Formula 1’s teams in a separate press conference over the race weekend. The team members appearing in the press conference are:
Mike Krack (Aston Martin)
Ayao Komatsu (Haas)
Andrea Stella (McLaren)
James Vowles (Williams)
WHO WILL BE THE RACE DIRECTOR AT THE 2024 DUTCH GRAND PRIX?
Niels Wittich will be the race director at the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix.
WHO WILL BE THE DRIVER STEWARD AT THE 2024 DUTCH GRAND PRIX?
Each weekend a former Formula 1 driver, or a driver from another prominent series of motorsport, joins the stewards to help judge any incidents from a drivers’ perspective. The Driver Steward this weekend is Johnny Herbert.
WHICH TYRE COMPOUNDS WILL BE USED AT THE 2024 DUTCH GRAND PRIX?
For the fourth season in a row, the C1, C2 and C3 compounds will be used at the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME AT THE DUTCH GRAND PRIX?
Verstappen equalled Vettel’s consecutive F1 record with another home victory in an exciting, wet 2023 Dutch Grand Prix.
Oscar Piastri crashed out in Free Practice 2 at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix before Daniel Ricciardo crashed at the same corner just moments later. In the impact, Ricciardo broke bones in his hand and was forced to sit out the rest of the weekend. F1 debutant Liam Lawson took his AlphaTauri seat for the rest of the weekend.
Rain fell ahead of final practice on Saturday morning, leading to plenty of offs. Both Kevin Magnussen and Zhou Guanyu span out in the wet session, while Lawson also made contact with the barriers on his first appearance.
It was still damp when qualifying began at Zandvoort, which helped Williams record their first double Q3 appearance in six years. Lewis Hamilton exited in Q2, while both Logan Sargeant and Charles Leclerc crashed out in Q3. Max Verstappen secured a third consecutive home pole, with Lando Norris his closest competitor, while Alex Albon qualified an impressive fourth.
As Sunday’s race began, rain began to fall trackside at Zandvoort. Verstappen maintained his lead ahead of Norris but the rain began falling more heavily before the drivers reached the final sector on the opening lap. Albon came out on top in a side-by-side battle with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, while seven drivers pitted at the end of the lap – including Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc.
With the weather worsening, Verstappen and Fernando Alonso were next of the frontrunners to pit at the end of Lap 2, while Lando Norris and George Russell stayed out on their slick tyres. Russell passed Norris for the lead at Turn 1 as Perez closed in on the leaders, the Red Bull easing into the lead on Lap 3. Verstappen made it a Red Bull 1-2 with an overtake on Zhou Guanyu on Lap 7.
More rain was expected but the weather had dried sufficiently for some drivers to make the switch back to slicks. Verstappen made the switch on Lap 12, with Perez following him in on the next lap. Verstappen gained enough time on his out lap to take the lead of the race.
On Lap 16, Sargeant crashed for the second time in two days leading to the Safety Car being deployed. The restart and the next 30 or so laps passed with little in the way of incident, aside from an exciting battle between Alonso and Sainz over third place, while debutant Lawson pulled an overtake on Leclerc. The Ferrari driver later retired.
With just over ten laps to go, the predicted heavy rain arrived. Verstappen made an early call for intermediates with Alonso following him in. Perez brought out the yellow flags as he ran off road at Turn 1, with Zhou Guanyu crashing at the same corner just moments later. With cars beginning to aquaplane, the Virtual Safety Car was called before the race was red-flagged.
The race resumed on Lap 66 with all drivers on intermediate tyres, where Alonso hunted down Verstappen in the lead. The Spaniard could not make his way by, with Verstappen winning his home race for the third year in a row.
A five second penalty for Perez for speeding in the pit lane meant that his third place was under pressure from Alpine’s Pierre Gasly. The Frenchman stayed close enough to the Red Bull to secure the final podium position.
Verstappen secured his ninth consecutive victory, equalling Sebastian Vettel’s record of the most successive wins in Formula 1 history.
WHAT’S THE FASTEST EVER LAP TIME AT THE DUTCH GRAND PRIX?
Attending the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix? Learn more about visiting Zandvoort in the F1Destinations Travel Guide.