Orange dominates Formula 1, but it is not the national color of the Netherlands before the race in Zandvoort (all sessions of the race weekend in the live ticker at Sportschau.de) this time. At the start of the Sommerpauee, a few exciting questions arise.
Who ultimately prevails at McLaren?
It is extremely likely that the McLaren team will set the world champion with the orange cars at the end of this season – so much the (still?) Leading Oscar Piatri and his direct pursuer Lando Norris can hardly stand in the way. Piatri goes with the small lead of 284: 275 points into the remaining ten Grand Prix races plus three sprint events. With the decisive factor for the progress of the season, it is already in Zandvoort whether Norris can maintain its run of three wins from the past four races.
The very fair handling of the two pilots with each other on the racetrack remains interesting, except for very few exceptions. In fact, the title can only be in danger if the duel drifts and leads to crash-related failures, as has already existed in the past with McLaren or in other teams. But nothing speaks for that at the moment.
Does the Oranje support help Verstappen to the jumps?
It is his home race, Max Verstappen himself says that he still drives goose bumps in Zandvoort. Tens of thousands of frenetic Oranje fans will whip the four-time in series world champion, but he himself does not seem to be expected to have a big home advantage: “I hope we can get closer, but I don’t think it’s the best route for us“, says the third place in the World Cup ranking – with 97 points behind Piatri.
Can the weather in Zandvoort be the decisive factor?
Quite possible. There is currently a 15 percent rainy probability for Sunday, which, however, decreases at 3 p.m. at the beginning of the race. But if there is a precipitation, Verstappen is particularly trusted. And Nico Hülkenberg in Kick Sauber is also an expert on a wet route.
Heavy rain in Zandvoort also caused interruptions earlier
Will it also be closely with third place for Verstappen?
In fact, Verstappen (187 points) in the World Cup ranking must currently look less forward than backwards. In fourth place sits his opponent George Russell, which is not exactly in an intimate friendship, with only 15 points less on the neck. Charles Leclerc in Ferrari (151) is still in fifth place.
What’s next with Hamilton and Ferrari?
There will also be the first indications in Zandvoort. Before the summer break, there were various frustration and almost resigned -sounding statements by the seven -time world champion, which even moved an immediate separation into the area of the conceivable.
Lewis Hamilton is desperate
Who will be second in the Constructors World Cup?
1st place in the team classification this year is firmly in McLaren-Hand (559 points): Almost 300 points behind are no longer catching up by “pursuers” Ferrari (260), but it can get tight again between the Reds and Mercedes (236). Little speaks for Red Bull (194). Even if Verstappen gets the curve again with a good restart in Zandvoort – the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda is a second pilot a moving string result (10 points) and by car so much that his farewell is considered fixed at the latest after the end of the season.
What is still possible for Hülkenberg?
For clean, the start in Zandvoort goes into the final phase – at least as far as the name of the team is concerned: from the 2026 season, the team officially drives as an Audi racing team, the Ingolstadt residents want to use three to four years later. Most recently, Sauber scored six times in a row, in Silverstone Nico Hülkenberg even made a podium. Sauber also wants to expand this good run in the Netherlands, and the Emmericher also has personal ambitions: Hülkenberg is still in the driver’s ranking as currently ninth (37 points) in striking distance to Albon in Williams (54 points) and Kimi Antonelli in Mercedes (64).