1092nd F1 GRAND PRIX | 37th DUTCH GRAND PRIX | 37th GRAND PRIX AT ZANDVOORT
2022 POLESITTER: MAX VERSTAPPEN | 2022 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 two years. The 2023 Dutch Grand Prix is set to take place on August 25-27.
2023 DUTCH GRAND PRIX: WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday 25th August
Free Practice 1 – 12:30pm Local Time / 11:30am UK Time
Free Practice 2 – 4:00pm Local Time / 3:00pm UK Time
Saturday 26th August
Free Practice 3 – 11:30pm Local Time / 10:30am UK Time
Qualifying- 3:00pm Local Time / 2:00pm UK Time
Sunday 27th August
The 2023 Dutch Grand Prix – 3:00pm Local Time / 2:00pm UK Time
2023 DUTCH GRAND PRIX: WEEKEND MILESTONES
Victory for Max Verstappen at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix would see him become the eighth driver to record three victories on home soil. Read more: Most F1 wins on home soil.
Victory for Max Verstappen would make him only the third driver – after Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart and Niki Lauda – to have taken three victories at the Dutch Grand Prix.
If Max Verstappen or Sergio Perez win the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, Red Bull will equal Lotus’ record of three consecutive wins at Zandvoort.
If two British drivers finish on the podium at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, Britain will become the first nation to record 30 podium finishes at Zandvoort.
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 2023 DUTCH GRAND PRIX
WHAT HAS CHANGED AT THE CIRCUIT SINCE LAST YEAR?
There have been minimal changes to the circuit since the 2022 Dutch Grand Prix. A number of bumps have been removed before Turn 1 and between Turns 5 & 6. New fencing has also been installed at Turns 7, 8 and 12 to better protect marshals.
HOW MANY DRS ZONES WILL THERE BE AT THE 2023 DUTCH GRAND PRIX?
Like last year, there will be two DRS zones at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix. Activation zones are after Turn 13 and between Turns 10 & 11.
WHO WILL BE IN THE 2023 DUTCH GRAND PRIX PRESS CONFERENCES?
The world’s media will have the opportunity to talk to the drivers on Thursday. The drivers appearing in the press conference are:
Group 1
Daniel Ricciardo (AlphaTauri)
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
George Russell (Mercedes)
Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Group 2
Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo)
Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Logan Sargeant (Williams)
The media will also be talking to prominent members of Formula 1’s teams on Friday. The team members appearing in the press conference are Peter Bayer (AlphaTauri), Guenther Steiner (Haas), James Vowles (Williams), Tom McCullough (Aston Martin), Enrico Cardile (Ferrari) and Paul Monaghan (Red Bull).
WHO WILL BE THE RACE DIRECTOR AT THE 2023 DUTCH GRAND PRIX?
Niels Wittich will be the race director at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix.
WHO WILL BE THE DRIVER STEWARD AT THE 2023 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 Derek Warwick.
WHICH TYRE COMPOUNDS WILL BE USED AT THE 2023 DUTCH GRAND PRIX?
For the third consecutive year, the C1, C2 and C3 compounds will be used at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME AT THE DUTCH GRAND PRIX?
Verstappen delighted his home fans for a second year in succession, taking a second consecutive victory at the Dutch Grand Prix – despite pressure from the Mercedes drivers.
Max Verstappen’s home race weekend didn’t get off to the best of starts as he came to a stop in Free Practice 1 with gearbox issues. He soon recovered from the setback and set the fastest time in qualifying to secure pole position for the Dutch Grand Prix for the second season in succession. The qualifying hour was interrupted twice by smoke flares being thrown onto the circuit.
A spin for Sergio Perez at the end of Q3 prevented some drivers from setting faster times. The Mexican qualified only fifth, with Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton between him and his Red Bull team-mate on the grid.
Verstappen led away at the start, while there was light contact at Turn 1 between Hamilton and Sainz. On Lap 2, Kevin Magnussen oversteered into the barriers but was able to keep going – albeit having lost a handful of positions.
Sainz was first of the frontrunners to pit and he endured a long stop. Perez followed him into the pits, with the Red Bull driver running over some equipment left by Ferrari in the pit lane. At the race’s halfway point, Hamilton went side by side with Perez on the hunt for a rare victory in 2022. Hamilton eventually passed for third place as he began his pursuit of Verstappen and Leclerc ahead.
Yuki Tsunoda had a bizarre incident in which he felt his tyres were not correctly fitted. He stopped at the side of the track but rejoined the race after being told the tyres were safe. He pitted again and then came to a halt on the track once more, necessitating a Safety Car.
Verstappen was able to take advantage and pitted under the Safety Car. Hamilton – who likely would have passed the Red Bull when he pitted if not for the caution period – also took the opportunity to take on fresh rubber, as did team-mate George Russell.
17 laps from the end, Valtteri Bottas came to a stop at the end of the main straight resulting in another Safety Car period. Verstappen pitted yet again, this time for soft tyres. Hamilton took the lead on track, while Russell also took on fresh tyres. Ferrari had more drama in the pit lane with Sainz penalised for an unsafe release.
At the restart, Verstappen re-passed Hamilton almost immediately. The Dutchman went on to take a second consecutive home victory, while Hamilton was passed by both his team-mate and Leclerc.
WHAT’S THE FASTEST EVER LAP TIME AT THE DUTCH GRAND PRIX?
Attending the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix? Learn more about visiting Zandvoort in the F1Destinations Travel Guide.
