Formula One Race Preview: Dutch Grand Prix

    




                                                       (photo credit ESPN F1 on Twitter)



    
    After one of the biggest blunders of the 2021 season that saw the shortest grand prix ever recorded in Formula One history, the world's greatest drivers take on the legendary Zandvoort circuit for the first time since the 1980s as the championship battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen reaches a fever pitch with only eleven races to go in this heavyweight bout. 

    The Dutch Grand Prix has been off the calendar since 1985, when famed F1 driver Niki Lauda took his Ferrari to victory circle. Since then, the circuit has gone through some changes. With most drivers comparing this race circuit to a roller coaster that will challenge the likes of even the best drivers. This is the second attempt to bring this race back to the schedule as this race was canceled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Zandvoort is a 4.259 KM or 2.646 mi, 14-turn permanent circuit located in North Holland, Netherlands. Very rarely do we see Formula One circuits with banking and this is going to be one of only two tracks this season with banking, joining the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix later this year. Due to the high speeds and narrow track, there will be no DRS zone coming off the final corner which is banked at 19 degrees. There will be only one DRS zone on track this weekend as drivers will be able to use it on the second longest straight at the circuit between turns nine and ten. While turn fourteen is a long sweeping right hand corner, the other banked corner at the circuit is turn 3. Which is probably the most difficult corner on the track as it is a downhill hairpin that makes the preferred line more diamond-like then hugging the bottom as you extend the turns four through six complex.

    While Lewis Hamilton may be the odds on favorite this weekend at Zandvoort, the real hero this weekend will be Max Verstappen as this is home race for the season. You thought Austria looked orange, just wait until you have seen 67,000 fans all screaming for Verstappen as he dives into the first turn; Tarzanbocht. As for some mid-field action, the only team to have both cars score points in the last two races has been Williams. Can the continue this hot streak? Can Lando Norris bounce back from a horrible weekend in Spa? How can I also forget the Kimi Raikkonen farewell tour begins as well.

You can watch the Dutch Grand Prix at 9:00 A.M. this Sunday on ESPN. Stay up to date with RacingRefresh.com for more F1 news, analysis, and opinion for the rest of the 2021 season


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Speedway Motorsports to Purchase Dover Motorsports

Image
Become a Patron! Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) has agreed to purchase the parent company of the Dover and Nashville Speedways, Dover Motorsports.  Additional report from Pockrass indicated that Speedway Motorsports would spend $3.61 per share totaling over $130 million. Dover Motorsports does post their profits and other financial data to the public each quarter, so it could be expected that this information will be confirmed by the end of the year.  A comment from  Said McGlynn, President and CEO of Dover Motorsports indicated a bittersweet moment for the brand. “While this marks the end of our 52 years as an independent operator in NASCAR, our future advancement is best secured by joining forces with a major player in the sport, and we are happy to be able to become part of the Speedway Motorsports family and to be able to work with Marcus Smith as NASCAR embraces its future.” According to a press release from SMI, "Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is acting as fi...
Read more

Letter From The Editor - ''My Personal Story, and Racing Refresh's Commitment to Motorsports Diversity."

Image
I have been a true student of motorsports since year 2000 when my uncle moved to Columbus, OH and introduced me to Big and Little E . Prior to my pursuit of racing knowledge, I have distinct memories of watching Dennis Anderson's monstrous Grave Digger, or King Kenny Bernstein's iconic Budweiser livery win countless races. I remember the rainbow assortment of Pontiac Trans-Ams race in the prestigious IROC events. I sat in amazement as the greatest racer that ever lived, Michael Schumacher won what felt like every start of his career. I always enjoyed motorsports, but it was the off-season of 2000-01 that made me crave and live for more each day.  My uncle had diecast cars that sat on shelves, each with their own story. While they were a wonderful collection, I think I assumed price tags in the millions of dollars as a child. Earnhardt's K2 , old Chevy hot rods, Busch Series this, Winston Cup Series that, he had a wonderful collection. There was one driver he highlighted to ...
Read more

30 Second Read: Explore the Pocono Mountains 350

Image
                              (Kyle Busch celebrates in Victory Lane at Pocono Raceway)       https://twitter.com/ToyotaRacing/status/1409284775983132674?s=20 Kyle Busch and the number 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota found there way to victory lane for his second win of the year, but not without good strategy and a lot of luck. Fuel mileage would make all the difference in race two of the Pocono doubleheader. As per the rules of the doubleheader weekend, the top 20 finishers of race one started inverted which put Michael McDowell and Chris Buescher on the front row for the start of the race.  Stage one though saw early troubles for McDowell's teammate Anthony Alfredo, as he had a tire go down and would hit the wall bringing out the first caution of the day on lap two. Martin Truex Jr would go on to win the first stage as William Byron would race his way back on to the lead lap by beating Truex...
Read more