Dutch Grand Prix: Preview

Uralkali Haas F1 Team is heading to the seaside, with Circuit Zandvoort set to end a 36-year hiatus for Formula 1’s Dutch Grand Prix.

Circuit Zandvoort can trace its history back to the late 1930s, when the coastal sand dunes to the north of the municipality were chosen for a race track, though its construction was delayed until the mid-1940s owing to the Second World War. The flowing and undulating circuit became a mainstay of Formula 1’s calendar but it dropped from the schedule after 1985, and was shortened, allowing for a housing development nearby, with track activity significantly reduced. 

But in recent years the circuit’s popularity has risen once more, and allied with the emergence of Max Verstappen, it has returned to Formula 1 circles. In 2019 it was confirmed that the Dutch Grand Prix would return to the championship in May 2020. The old-school 4.259km Circuit Zandvoort underwent a full reprofiling, including an overhaul of its facilities, with significant 18-degree banking added to the widened Arie Luyendijk Bocht that leads drivers onto the pit straight. 

The pandemic postponed the event’s return by 16 months but after the longest time between successive national grands prix in history – 36 years – Formula 1 is ready to return to Circuit Zandvoort, with Uralkali Haas F1 Team eager to put the VF-21 through its paces.

Circuit Zandvoort may not have featured on Formula 1’s schedule since 1985 but Uralkali Haas F1 Team youngsters Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher both sampled the circuit, prior to its modifications, in Formula 3. Mazepin secured a top 10 finish while Schumacher picked up a trophy en-route to the 2018 crown.

 

Guenther Steiner, Team principal of Uralkali Haas F1 Team

Last weekend Formula 1 released its latest update concerning the remainder of the 2021 schedule. Your thoughts please on the planned path to the season-finale in Abu Dhabi on December 12 and the input on the team side to ensure a workable schedule taking into consideration things like personnel and logistics.

“I think going from 23 to 22 events is still a big achievement under the conditions of this pandemic because it’s far from over and nobody expected this to drag on so long. I think there is a good plan in place now for the season with the events in place. Changing the schedule around a bit, for us, there is still time to do. Obviously, it’s more short-term work but we have got used to that over the last year, so no issue there and for the team having one event less, they will not complain.”

The Dutch Grand Prix is a welcome addition to the Formula 1 schedule. Are you pleased to see a return to more historic circuits, with an F1 heritage, alongside Formula 1’s push towards new venues such as Jeddah and Miami etc. 

“I think going to Zandvoort is a cool place to go to. I always say swapping the events around a little bit also makes it interesting. Now, for a few years we go back to Zandvoort and maybe one of the other historic events comes back because they’ve made updates to the track. Bringing new events such as Jeddah is also fantastic because you see something new – you get to experience new countries and some new race tracks.”

We’ve witnessed a sea of orange at tracks such as the Red Bull Ring and Spa-Francorchamps from all of Max Verstappen’s fans. Now there’s a Dutch Grand Prix – just what kind of atmosphere do you expect at Zandvoort thanks to the ‘Max Factor’, and how great is it to see such passion for drivers in the sport?

“I think that’s all that a racing driver can wish for – to have a fan base like Max has got, it’s fantastic. Now a race has been brought to his home country it’s very nice, even if the fans travel to Austria and Spa en masse! I think even without the Dutch Grand Prix he has a huge following but there will be a sea of orange in Zandvoort.”

From what you know of Circuit Zandvoort and the current generation of Formula 1 cars – what do you think we can expect to see in terms of on-track action when the Dutch Grand Prix gets underway?

“I haven’t been to Zandvoort in a while. I know they’ve changed the big turns, they’ve put banking on it. It’s a pretty short circuit. Let’s see – I have no expectations but I’m sure it will be fine. They’ve done a lot of work – one year more than they expected due to the pandemic – so I’m sure it will be a good event.”