‘25 Dutch GP Preview
It's Race Weekend in Zandvoort, Netherlands
Dutch GP History
Formula 1 makes a stop near the shores of the North Sea, about twenty miles west of Amsterdam. The 2025 Dutch Grand Prix will be the 35th edition of the race held as part of the Formula 1 World Championship, all taking place at the Zandvoort Circuit. This circuit was developed after World War II, with the first races held in 1948. The inaugural Dutch Grand Prix took place in 1952, won by Italian driver Alberto Ascari, who drove for Ferrari.
The Dutch Grand Prix was a regular part of the Formula 1 calendar from 1958 to 1985, but was absent from 1986 until its return in 2021. Since its reestablishment, Max Verstappen has won three out of four races, while Lando Norris claimed victory in last year's race. Ferrari holds the record for the most constructor wins, with eight victories.
Jim Clark holds the record for the most wins at Zandvoort, with four. Max Verstappen is tied with Jackie Stewart and Niki Lauda, each with three wins. The Dutch Grand Prix is contracted to remain on the Formula 1 calendar until 2026.
About the Circuit:
The Zandvoort Circuit is a 4.259 km (2.646 miles) racetrack that features fourteen turns and hosts various events, including Formula 1, DTM, and the GT World Challenge. The circuit's narrow and challenging layout, which has limited overtaking opportunities, makes qualifying extremely important; every winner since its return in 2021 has started from pole position.
An interesting fact: Turn 14, known as the Arie Luyendykbocht, is named after Dutch driver Arie Luyendyk, a two-time Indy 500 winner. It is the most banked turn on the F1 calendar, with an angle of 18 degrees. Zandvoort has always been a fan favorite, thanks to its combination of high-banked corners, beachside party atmosphere, and thrilling racing action.
McLaren. The team has already secured the Constructor's title, but that's not what everyone's focused on. The real excitement is the battle between Oscar and Lando. Oscar currently holds a nine-point lead as we move into the second half of the season. Every single race from now on will be crucial; this is going to be absolute cinema!
Ferrari. Ferrari controls its own destiny. They find themselves second in the constructors' standings, despite a few mistakes as the season approached summer break. Second place is by no means safe; if Mercedes or even Red Bull could get hot, it is very reasonable for Ferrari to find itself in third or even fourth by the end of the season. If Ferrari can do what they've done for much of the season, which is finish races in the top 5, second in the constructors' championship is a doable task, and in my opinion, second in the constructors' championship is an excellent finishing place for Hamilton and Leclerc's first year as teammates. Ferrari has tended to be a second-half of the season team, with most of their wins and podiums coming later in the season. Over the last two seasons, if this trend continues, it could be a very successful second half of the season...and that would be very exciting news for the Tifosi.
Mercedes. Mercedes still has plenty to fight for: securing second place in the Constructors' Championship, George finishing third in the Drivers' Championship, and Kimi building the confidence to become a stronger contender next season. Neither Mercedes driver has a contract confirmed for next year, and while I don’t anticipate any changes, it’s still not set in stone. Mercedes needs to come together as a cohesive team; they have the choice to unite or fall apart, and we've seen both scenarios play out in the past few seasons. I believe George will be recognized as one of the best drivers by the 2025 season, and a win is still within his reach.
Can George beat Max for the Drivers' title? I think he can. Kimi needs to eliminate any doubts from the Mercedes team; he must demonstrate that he is "the guy" for 2026. Mercedes is one of the most intriguing teams as we approach the remainder of the 2025 season.
Red Bull. Unless something miraculous happens and the second Red Bull car begins to perform adequately, Max cannot singlehandedly elevate the team into the top three of the constructors' standings. The second half of this season could present significant challenges for the Red Bull team. They have secured only one podium finish in the last seven races, a statistic not seen since 2015. I hope the team can overcome the adversity they have faced this season and finish on a positive note. There is a lot at stake for Red Bull in 2026, as the second driver position has yet to be confirmed; Yuki is literally racing for his job.
Williams. Williams started this season strong, but the team has cooled off a bit in the last few races. However, the upcoming races on the calendar have traditionally been strong for them. I expect to see the "old Carlos" return in the second half of the season. While it has been an adjustment for him, we have seen improvement. Albon has been outstanding all season, and this trend is expected to continue.
Currently, Williams is comfortably in fifth place, but if Aston Martin or even Stake starts performing well, Williams could risk dropping in the standings. To maintain their position, Williams needs to refocus and maximize their points gap. Finishing in fifth place in the Constructors' Championship would be exceptional for the team.
Aston Martin. The second half of the first half of the season was much better than the first half. Are you following me? Aston Martin started the season with high ambitions. After Lance's quick starts with finishes of sixth and ninth, the team went through a six-race cold streak. However, in the remaining six races before the summer break, Aston Martin achieved points finishes in five out of six races, with two of those earning double points. It seems they have shaken off their rough start, but we’ll have to see how they perform in the second half of the season. I don't think anyone expected Williams to be ahead of Aston Martin going into the break. Let's see who claims fifth place as the season wraps up. Aston Martin needs to get back into a rhythm quickly.
Stake Sauber. Sauber is on an absolute hot streak! Six races in a row with points, a double points race, and of course, Nico's podium. By far the most underrated team on the grid. I don't know how they do it, but they do it. I love watching this team every week. Nico is leading the way, and Gabi is becoming a better grand prix driver every weekend. How high can they take it?
VCARB. There is currently no certainty regarding any Red Bull-related seat for 2026, except for Max Verstappen. Both Isack and Liam are effectively racing for their job security. Amidst the chaos in the Red Bull camp, VCARB has emerged as one of the most consistent teams in the midfield, consistently accumulating points.
Liam started a bit slower after switching to the Red Bull seat but has since found his rhythm, scoring 20 points and achieving three top-top finishes in the last four races. In contrast, Isack began the season strong and was on a points streak during the first half. Although Isack has cooled off a bit since then, he is still performing well.
VCARB has the potential to move up in the constructors' standings, as the battle for positions fifth to ninth remains competitive. While it seems unlikely that Liam will regain a Red Bull seat, Isack still has the opportunity to make a strong impression during his rookie season. Liam is racing for his 2026 VCARB seat, while Isack's prospects are wide open. It will be interesting to see how the remainder of the season unfolds.
Haas. It's been a mixed bag for Haas this season; some weekends everything clicks, while others it doesn’t. I don't think Haas will move from the ninth position in the constructors' standings. This isn't necessarily because I believe the team won't perform, but rather because the teams ahead of them are also expected to continue performing well, making it difficult for Haas to close the gaps. Both drivers are under contract for the 2026 season, so there won’t be any significant changes in the near future. The second half of this season should focus on cohesiveness for Haas. The goal is to enhance team performance through better strategies, improved pit stops, and high performance from the drivers. It’s about laying a solid foundation for next season while still achieving positive results this year.
Alpine. The remainder of this season for Alpine is uncertain. The team has struggled to get both cars competitive in every race. Pierre is maximizing the performance of his car, but he has a challenging road ahead. Franco needs to demonstrate moments of brilliance; otherwise, this could be his last opportunity with the team. With no second driver announced for the 2026 season, Franco must rekindle the excitement of the F1 fanbase, just as he did in 2024.
