After the three-week summer season break, the 2023 System 1 World Championship continues this weekend with spherical 14, the Dutch Grand Prix.

The race as soon as once more takes place at Circuit Zandvoort, a historic website positioned among the many dunes of the Netherlands’ North Coastline.

The Dutch Grand Prix returned to the F1 calendar in 2021 after greater than three a long time, and proved to be a success, not least due to the tough nature of Circuit Zandvoort. The circuit is well-liked for its vital modifications in altitude and banked corners, which add to the theater.

After tackling the longest observe of the season within the earlier spherical in Belgium, groups now face the second shortest: Zandvoort clocks in at simply 2.64 miles. Traits that make it tough embody its shut proximity to the ocean, with sturdy onshore winds tending to upset the dealing with of the vehicles whereas additionally protecting the observe in sand, making grip a problem. The observe can be slim and twisty, so overtaking isn’t easy. This implies respectable qualifying is important.

Circuit Zandvoort, house of the System 1 Dutch Grand Prix

The straights aren’t lengthy, so energy items take a breather right here. Most of the corners are flowing, so tires do not put on as a lot as at different tracks. Pirelli has nominated its C1 compound because the White laborious, C2 because the Yellow medium, and C3 because the Crimson delicate, the identical mixture as final yr.

Automobiles are inclined to run a high-downforce setup. The truth is, solely the races in Hungary and Monaco see greater downforce setups. The observe has two Drag Discount System (DRS) zones, between turns 10 and 11 and on the principle straight, the place drivers can modify their vehicles’ aerodynamics to make them slipperier for overtaking.

The climate forecast requires stormy circumstances throughout each Saturday’s qualifying session and Sunday’s race.

After an preliminary apply session on Friday, Crimson Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen was the quickest, forward of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Mercedes-Benz AMG’s Lewis Hamilton. The session was interrupted when Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg crashed into the barries at flip 14. Going into the weekend, Verstappen leads the 2023 Drivers’ Championship with 314 factors. Fellow Crimson Bull driver Sergio Perez is a distant second with 189 factors, and Alonso is third with 149 factors. Within the Constructors’ Championship, Crimson Bull leads with 503 factors, versus the 247 factors of second-placed Mercedes and 196 factors of third-placed Aston Martin. Final yr’s winner at Zandvoort was Verstappen driving for Crimson Bull.