Official 2021 Dutch Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Piginapoke]

Round 13 and The Dutch GP; after Belgium I think it’s best if we all just move on! The weather for next weekend looks much better, maybe a few showers on Sunday.

Zandvoort is a fast, undulating circuit, which looks tailor-made for Red Bull but we’ll soon see. Ignoring all the right and wrongs of last weekend, I’m hoping Williams can score points for the third race on the bounce- great to see my favourite team starting to turn the corner!

Date(s): Friday 3 September to Sunday 5 September 2021.

UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1 and Channel 4.





Live timing for all sessions available here:

https://www.formula1.com/en/f1-live.html

Lap times, PU component use, technical reports and Stewards' decisions for the weekend will appear here:

https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-c...

Weather forecast:

https://weather.com/en-GB/weather/tenday/l/a0bb3b0...

Tyre options:

Teams have two hard, three mediums and eight soft sets available per driver for each weekend.



2020 race result:

N/A

A lap of the new Zandvoort circuit:

https://youtu.be/GGu--_UHY_o

History of the Dutch Grand Prix:

https://youtu.be/D-Fm9IsQWX0

Edited by Piginapoke on Monday 30th August 09:34

[tertius]

Really looking forward to this but having driven here (on a track day) I’m still slightly astonished that it is an F1 standard track … I remember it feeling very narrow!

[Flooble]

Yes, I think this may be another Monaco. Which is a bit of a shame, as another finish in qualifying order procession is probably not what F1 needs after the Spa procession.

Let's hope it doesn't rain!

[SpudLink]

Piginapoke said:

I think it’s best if we all just move on!

Agreed.

Piginapoke said:

I’m hoping Williams can score points for the third race on the bounce- great to see my favourite team starting to turn the corner!

If George can get into Q3, I think there’s a real possibility he could hold onto his position. There don’t seem to be any overtaking opportunities for an F1 car.

[Sandpit Steve]

Good to quickly move on, from whatever we are calling yesterday., Fingers crossed the Northern European weather improves somewhat during the week!

[Piginapoke]

SpudLink said:

Piginapoke said:

I think it’s best if we all just move on!

Agreed.

Piginapoke said:

I’m hoping Williams can score points for the third race on the bounce- great to see my favourite team starting to turn the corner!

If George can get into Q3, I think there’s a real possibility he could hold onto his position. There don’t seem to be any overtaking opportunities for an F1 car.

He'd do well to manage that! Any points would be welcome though.

I think one of the most interesting stories of this year is how much more performance Williams has got from the car, just by operating it better and understanding the tyres. Bodes well for 2022 I think, although the lead driver choice will be crucial.

[Piginapoke]

Sandpit Steve said:

Good to quickly move on, from whatever we are calling yesterday., Fingers crossed the Northern European weather improves somewhat during the week!

Fingers Crossed....

[CooperD]

Glad to see Zandvoort back on the calendar. I went there in 1983 and watched from the sand dunes. Managed to get this photo of Niki Lauda driving a McLaren at the time.

[SmoothCriminal]

Watched max's on board they did to showcase the track, can't see many overtaking spots looks like a Hungary.

Exactly what f1 didn't need after the bs that was yesterday let's hope there is zero rain at least.

[Sandpit Steve]

Piginapoke said:

Sandpit Steve said:

Good to quickly move on, from whatever we are calling yesterday., Fingers crossed the Northern European weather improves somewhat during the week!

Fingers Crossed....

Let’s hope it stays reasonably dry! A shower in the middle of the race is always fun, especially when it’s difficult to pass on track. So long as it’s only a shower!

[TheDeuce]

I'll take whatever weather we get at this circuit - just so long as it's not like yesterday's end of days, apocalypse, build an ark downpour...

More than anything I'm looking forward to seeing how modern F1 cars deal with a very unique circuit for the very first time.

That and the general orange/Max/Dutch-ness of the event. No pressure, Max...

[thegreenhell]

Looking forward to this as something new, but not hopeful of a great race. Several of the drivers have expressed concern that it's a great track for them to drive on but terrible to race on, with very little chance of overtaking. Many of them will have raced here in the past in F3.

[TheDeuce]

thegreenhell said:

Looking forward to this as something new, but not hopeful of a great race. Several of the drivers have expressed concern that it's a great track for them to drive on but terrible to race on, with very little chance of overtaking. Many of them will have raced here in the past in F3.

You're dead right, it's not a good track really. But it's the first GP so some teams will struggle with such limited practice opportunity - that's where the drama should come in.

Also I think we might see them struggle with choosing the best compromise setup between quali and race.

[thegreenhell]

TheDeuce said:

You're dead right, it's not a good track really. But it's the first GP so some teams will struggle with such limited practice opportunity - that's where the drama should come in.

Also I think we might see them struggle with choosing the best compromise setup between quali and race.

But it's such a simple track it should only take them 15 minutes to set up the cars...

[TheDeuce]

thegreenhell said:

TheDeuce said:

You're dead right, it's not a good track really. But it's the first GP so some teams will struggle with such limited practice opportunity - that's where the drama should come in.

Also I think we might see them struggle with choosing the best compromise setup between quali and race.

But it's such a simple track it should only take them 15 minutes to set up the cars...

On that point, we'll see soon enough

It might be that the F1 teams aren't good enough to manage that feat.

[Sandpit Steve]

thegreenhell said:

Looking forward to this as something new, but not hopeful of a great race. Several of the drivers have expressed concern that it's a great track for them to drive on but terrible to race on, with very little chance of overtaking. Many of them will have raced here in the past in F3.

Bottas said he’d driven it ages ago, he was in Euro F3 in 2009 and 2010.

A quick Google suggests Hamilton in 2005, Vettel in 2006, Ricciardo in 2008, Sainz in 2011, Latifi in 2013, Leclerc, Russell and Stroll in 2015, Norris in 2016, Mazepin and Schumacher in 2017, all competed at Zandvoort in Euro F3. That’s twelve of the current field.

[TheDeuce]

Sandpit Steve said:

thegreenhell said:

Looking forward to this as something new, but not hopeful of a great race. Several of the drivers have expressed concern that it's a great track for them to drive on but terrible to race on, with very little chance of overtaking. Many of them will have raced here in the past in F3.

Bottas said he’d driven it ages ago, he was in Euro F3 in 2009 and 2010.

A quick Google suggests Hamilton in 2005, Vettel in 2006, Ricciardo in 2008, Sainz in 2011, Latifi in 2013, Leclerc, Russell and Stroll in 2015, Norris in 2016, Mazepin and Schumacher in 2017, all competed at Zandvoort in Euro F3. That’s twelve of the current field.

Upon returning they might notice a couple of changes.

[anonymous-user]

The weather forecast might look dry but it’s the wind that is the problem it blows sand on the track

Went to see F1 there in 1974 think Lauda won. It was a very basic narrow circuit not a lot of overtaking and had dreadful access from memory. Probably been improved but this article is not encouraging. Masi will have his red flag out

https://drivetribe.com/p/why-zandvoort-isnt-ready-...

Edited by cc3 on Monday 30th August 14:54

[TheDeuce]

cc3 said:

The weather forecast might look dry but it’s the wind that is the problem it blows sand on the track

Went to see F1 there in 1974 think Lauda won. It was a very basic narrow circuit not a lot of overtaking and had dreadful access from memory. Probably been improved but this article is not encouraging. Masi will have his red flag out

https://drivetribe.com/p/why-zandvoort-isnt-ready-...

Edited by cc3 on Monday 30th August 14:54

That's a very old article that speaks of the track ahead of it being updated in several ways to be a better fit for F1. I'm sure some of the issues remain, they can only do so much about the traffic/access limitations for example..

But they know F1 is coming so will be improving just about every aspect of the facility to cope and provide all the services required. The problem of it being a tight and narrow circuit are in theory addressed by the two banked sections, which 'should' allow overtaking. That's the theory anyway, who knows how effective that will be - but it will be interesting finding out this maiden year at least.

[Jasandjules]

I know it is not real but in the game there are a couple of clear overtaking points, the first being near the end of the lap in the DRS zone (this is a "just about"). Then the straight, assuming you can get close enough to the rear of another car heading around the banking before that straight, then it should be a fairly clear pass. And that is working on the basis that the game is exactly right, looking at the Max lap it does appear to be, but we will see.....

There are a couple of massive kerbs though, if anyone hits those they will have broken cars I suspect...