Formula 1 is set to make its comeback this weekend after a summer hiatus with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. There is a possibility of rain as well, which has been a frequent and significant factor in the 2023 F1 season up to now. The last race that went without rain affecting any of the sessions was the Miami Grand Prix in May.
This weekend marks the third time Formula One has returned to the Netherlands since the Dutch GP made its way back to the calendar in 2021. Up to now, the newly refurbished Zandvoort track has yet to experience wet conditions and that could all change this weekend.
Rainy F1 season to continue in Zandvoort
Friday marks the first day back on the track after the traditional summer break period, and the likelihood of rain is 17%, in the form of showers. The temperature is 21 degree Celsius and it is expected to be partly cloudy, with some light winds. Saturday is expected to be cooler at 19c, with the chance of rain staying the same at 17%. Sunday’s forecast predicts a temperature of 19 degree celsius as well, with partly cloudy conditions and a slightly higher chance of rain at 21%.
The Zandvoort track has recently been redone, and having a wet race on a comparatively new track might just make for a competitive race weekend. And with homeboy Max Verstappen chasing ex-F1 driver Sebastian Vettel’s nine wins in a row record this weekend, it’s surely going to make the race even more interesting for viewers.
Dutch GP weekend schedule
In 1952 Formula 1 made its debut in the Dutch dunes, with Alberto Ascari of Ferrari at the helm of a first, second, and third place finish. The championship continued to race at the track until 1985, then went on a hiatus until 2019 when the announcement was made that F1 was returning to Zandvoort for 2020. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the return was postponed for another year.
When the current F1 drivers were asked to reflect on the Zandvoort track they had experienced while competing in their junior categories, they used words such as ‘really quick’, ‘pretty insane’, ‘crazy’ and ‘old-school’. An additional descriptor would be ‘undulating’, as the track winds through the dunes creating a rollercoaster feel. Although the track was renovated for F1’s return, the circuit still has the same characteristics as it did in the past.
And this time Dutch Grand Prix is supposed to pack all that excitement with rain. What do you think about the newly redone Dutch circuit? Do you think Max will take the win at his home game? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section down below.
