NETHERLANDS:
After almost a month off for the summer season break, Formulation One is again as followers, drivers, and groups descend on the seaside resort of Zandvoort for Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix.
With 10 races to go, the world championship is finely poised as McLaren stars Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris battle it out with solely 9 factors separating them.
AFP Sport takes a take a look at 5 speaking factors within the paddock forward of the race.
Norris brilliantly received at Zandvoort final yr and few would guess towards the Briton or Australian teammate Piastri taking the chequered flag on Sunday, given McLaren’s dominance this season.
The pair are free to race one another below the staff’s “papaya guidelines” — named after McLaren’s colors — which boil right down to “do not crash into one another”, in response to Piastri.
However that is precisely what occurred on the Canadian Grand Prix and because the championship hots up, followers are eager to know whether or not McLaren will change their guidelines to favour one driver.
For now, the 2 have a very good relationship — rapidly patching up ties after Canada — however historical past exhibits that staff spirit can rapidly evaporate within the championship stress cooker.
Assuming McLaren preserve their grip on the highest locations within the Netherlands, can Norris shut the hole and even overtake the Australian, or will Piastri prolong his lead?
World Champion Max Verstappen finds himself within the unfamiliar place of coming to his dwelling Grand Prix removed from favorite to win, going through a battle simply to make the rostrum.
The Dutchman suffered a depressing weekend final yr, failing to win for the primary time since Zandvoort was reintroduced to the F1 circuit in 2021.
He spun his automobile in a moist first observe, misplaced pole to Norris, and completed greater than 22 seconds off the tempo — “only a unhealthy weekend all spherical”, mentioned a downcast Verstappen.
He even suffered the indignity of Norris mocking his trademark celebration, cheekily saying “merely beautiful” over the staff radio as he crossed the road.
The hordes of orange-clad followers can be hoping Verstappen can produce a trademark miracle drive to tug off an enormous shock.
Will Zandvoort be the place that seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton rediscovers his mojo?
The Ferrari driver raised eyebrows on the final Grand Prix in Hungary by describing himself as “fully ineffective” and saying Ferrari ought to “herald one other driver.”
On the age of 40, may the pressures and expectation of his high-profile swap from Mercedes to the storied Ferrari staff tip the racing legend into retirement?
Hamilton followers can be desperate to see whether or not a number of weeks of relaxation may have pepped up the British driver, who nonetheless enjoys the backing of staff boss Fred Vasseur.
With the return of F1 racing comes the inevitable gossip of who drives the place subsequent season.
With main adjustments coming to Formulation One from subsequent season, many groups have been reluctant to shake issues up an excessive amount of — Verstappen for instance committing to Crimson Bull simply earlier than the break.
However questions proceed to swirl round George Russell, whose contract at Mercedes ends this season.
The Briton has mentioned it is a query of “when, not if” his contract is prolonged however till his future is assured, paddock gossip will rage.
Nestled within the dunes only a stone’s throw from the North Sea seashore, Zandvoort is legendary for 2 issues: its “orange military” of followers and its unpredictable climate.
Final yr’s Saturday observe noticed a biblical deluge drench followers and trigger a fiery crash, as US driver Logan Sargeant almost completely destroyed his Williams in a high-speed spin.
Showers are forecast all through the weekend, which can favour dwelling hero Verstappen, identified for his talent in wet-weather driving.
Regardless of the climate, Dutch followers can be eager to savour the ambiance whereas they will: Sunday would be the penultimate race ever staged at Zandvoort.
