Netherlands Grand Prix at Zandvoort, Sunday, 27.08.2023
The Formula 1 reports back from the summer break. After four weeks, the engines of the world’s most popular racing series are roaring again.
High-flyer Max Verstappen has a home race this weekend. The race will be held at the traditional Zandvoort circuit. Once again, he is the clear favorite to win on the Dutch circuit. He will start from pole.
Since the comeback of Circuit Park Zandvoort in the 2021 racing calendar, he has won both Dutch GPs. Will he once again create a party atmosphere in the stands off the North Sea coast on Sunday? I’ll go into that in my Netherlands GP tip.
One thing is clear: After Michael Schumacher, no other driver triggered as much hype as Max Verstappen. His fans travel all over Europe after him and paint the grandstands orange.
Verstappen does not feel any pressure as a result. The two-time world champion hardly allows himself any mistakes and was already able to win in a close battle against Lewis Hamilton in 2021 in the dunes of Zandvoort.
He had an easier time of it a year later, driving away from all his rivals. Just like in almost every race this season. The clear favorite rating of 1.25 is therefore no surprise.
There is no question that he will win his third world championship title in a row. The unrivaled Red Bull driver is merely battling the sport’s records in 2023. With teammate Sergio Perez, he has already broken the most wins by a racing team in the course of a McLaren season (1988).
A new record also awaits at Zandvoort. He can equal the nine consecutive race wins of Sebastian Vettel, who like Verstappen dominated the action with Red Bull in 2013.
The German, who ended his career just last year, will have to hope for Lando Norris (9.00), George Russell (13.00) or Perez (23.0). They are considered the worst pursuers at Bet365.
The odds already show that only unpredictability can slow Verstappen down, technical problems, an unfavorable safety car phase or massive weather capers.
However, it is in wet conditions in particular that the Dutchman makes all the difference to most of the drivers in the field. Nevertheless, the probability of making a mistake is much higher in the rain because the grip is significantly worse.
Rain is forecast for Zandvoort on Sunday. Already in qualifying the floodgates opened in the sky.
If the rain comes, a bet on under 17.5 drivers in the final classification could pay off. Bet365 is serving 2.10 odds for this market. In this case, three drivers would have to be eliminated.
While at the very front will probably again lack the tension, behind the man with the 33 it is likely to be tight again. Despite having the same equipment, Perez has only managed to secure second place once in the last five races.
Especially in qualifying, which has never been the Mexican’s core competence anyway, he spoiled a lot for the races on Sunday. At the recent Grand Prix in Spa, everything finally fell into place again and Perez finished second, ten seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc.
On a completely different circuit like Zandvoort, where aerodynamics play a major role, the cars will again require different skills than at the high-speed circuit in Belgium.
After all, the average speed of 190 km/h is well below that of Spa (240 km/h). At the beginning of the season, these tracks suited Aston Martin in particular.
The last 5 races at Circuit Park Zandvoort:
Meanwhile, the former second power of the season has been swept by the other chasing teams and is no longer racing near the podium.
Instead of odds under 2.00, Fernando Alonso therefore even beckons 5.00 odds that he will take home a trophy this weekend.
The racing team of the moment is McLaren. At the beginning of the season, the British team was still at the back of the field, but is now a regular on the podium. Such a quantum leap in performance in the middle of the season has rarely been seen in the premier class.
And that’s especially true since Norris and Oscar Piastri’s race car has already proven itself on various types of track. In Spa, however, the team was unlucky.
The pace had been right there, too. The Australian finished second in the sprint race. McLaren should therefore be a podium candidate again at Zandvoort. Bwin offers lucrative odds: Norris (1.50), Piastri (7.00).
Bernd Mayländer already had to reel off laps at Zandvoort last year. With possible rain, the safety car probability on the narrow coastal circuit increases further.
Summary: Verstappen is likely to take his ninth win in a row and equal Vettel’s record. Behind him, I’m counting on McLaren and Mercedes first and foremost.
Ferrari is lucky to have a good weekend now and then, but still doesn’t understand its car. On the technically demanding circuit at Zandvoort, I don’t trust the Italians to finish at the front.
The Formula 1 team, which has been on the grid since the first season in 1950, already failed to perform at top level on the other slow circuits in Monaco and Hungary.
After the strong last sessions, I definitely have high hopes for McLaren again and see the British team’s drivers as the second force.
Piastri may still have blown the qualifying session, but he should be able to drive ahead in the race, at all events cracking Williams driver Alexander Albon. For this duel, Bwin has a suitable bet.
My Netherlands GP tip: Piastri beats Albon!
