2026 Dutch Grand Prix Preview

Piastri Zandvoort — (Image credit: @McLarenF1)

Guide to the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix as F1 returns from the summer shutdown at Zandvoort, Netherlands.

This year’s trip to the dunes of Zandvoort brings a different post summer break vibe because it’s the last Dutch GP after organisers decided to pull out of the event once the race’s contract expires at the end of this season, as was announced in December 2024.

Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli though arrives with a 50-point lead over Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton as the pair battle for the title, whilst George Russell is just nine points behind Hamilton but in need of a huge second half of the season to snatch the title from his teammate.

Zandvoort meanwhile is bringing different emotions at Red Bull as it’s Max Verstappen home race – considering he races under the Dutch flag rather than his birth country, Belgium, but Isack Hadjar has been ruled out with a wrist injury.

Liam Lawson consequently has been promoted from Racing Bulls to Red Bull for this weekend to replace Hadjar, whilst his seat at the former has been filled by reserve driver – Yuki Tsunoda who returns to F1 after he was dropped from his Red Bull seat at the end of last season.

Now, here is a full guide to everything that you need to know ahead of the 2026 Dutch GP weekend.

Track Guide

Circuit: Zandvoort Circuit

Laps: 72

Race Distance: 306.648km

Tyre Compounds: C2, C3 & C4

Schedule

Date	Session	Time (BST)
Friday 21 August	Practice	11:30am
Friday 21 August	Sprint Qualifying	3:30pm
Saturday 22 August	Sprint	11:00am
Saturday 22 August	Qualifying	3:00pm
Sunday 23 August	Race	2:00pm

Given the high-speed sweeping nature of the circuit, Zandvoort will require low downforce and top speed in order to maximise performance across a single lap.
As is traditional after the summer break, many teams will be expected to bring upgrades.
Avoiding traffic on outlaps after pit stops will be key to executing the undercut strategy, whilst pit stop timing could too be key if the Safety Car is deployed.
With rain forecast across parts of the weekend, teams could face unpredictable conditions from session to session which could mix the order up.
Lawson and Tsunoda will need to maximise practice in order to adapt quickly to their new machinery with this being a sprint weekend.

Last Time Out

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri dominated F1’s visit to Zandvoort in 2025 with pole and victory from Verstappen after Lando Norris retired with a power unit failure on lap 65, which handed Hadjar his maiden F1 podium in third.

2026 Dutch Grand Prix Preview