Dutch Grand Prix 2024: A Beginner’s Guide to the F1 Action

Let’s get ready for the Dutch Grand Prix 2024 together! We prepared the beginner’s guide on the basics of the race, circuit insights, and points for F1 newcomers to focus on before the Grand Prix.

What Is The Dutch Grand Prix: A Second Brief

The Formula 1 race at the Zandvoort circuit in the Netherlands is among those the fans like the most, and that is for a reason. The Dutch Grand Prix owes its turns to Red Bull driver Max Verstappen.

Until 2021, the Dutch race has been awarded the longest paused round in the Formula 1 calendar because it has been counting for 36 years and 11 days!

With Max Verstappen’s popularity increasing in the championship title against Lewis Hamilton, it was decided to hold his homeland Grand Prix, which started in 2021.

The home race is special for a certain driver who wants to win even more. Verstappen has been winning the Dutch Grand Prix all three times after the challenge back in the championship.

As for the future perspectives, most likely, Dutch and Belgian races will be rotated each other in the Formula 1 calendar since 2025.

How Zandvoort Shapes the Dutch Grand Prix

Zandvoort isn’t your everyday track—it’s a tight, fast, dune‑side rollercoaster that refuses to make passing easy. Here’s what makes it special:

Weather and sand matter too: Coastal winds can sweep sand onto the racing line, adding unpredictability—especially if rain’s in the forecast, turning Zandvoort into a dynamic chessboard for teams.

Banked turns are the headline act: Turns 3 (Hugenholtz) and 14 (Arie Luyendyk) crank over 18–19° of banking, steeper even than Indianapolis—and that changes everything (especially tire load and grip).

Overtaking is hard work: It’s a short, narrow layout where DRS zones exist but rarely deliver easy passes. That puts qualifying at a premium: nearly all winners here launch from the front rows.

Tire stress runs high: Pirelli mandates the three hardest compounds (C1/C2/C3) to combat the extreme loads through the banked corners. Strategy usually leans toward one or two pit stops, depending on track temps and weather.

Who Are The Main Contenders To Focus On The Dutch Grand Prix?

You can expect Max Verstappen to be on his way to getting his fourth victory at Zandvoort. The start of the race marks him crossing the 200th Grand Prix label, which puts Verstappen ahead of Alain Prost, who holds 199 race starts per Formula 1 career.

However, all our expectations end at this point because since the Zandvoort backed to Formula 1, there were three different drivers to finish second (Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and Fernando Alonso) and third (Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez, and Pierre Gasly).

But a few suggestions we still have. Compare the first and last seven races of the 2024 Formula 1 championship, and you will find out that McLaren and Mercedes are the two teams that added the most.

Therefore, McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have all the chances to complete the top three alongside Zandwoort’s main hero, Max Verstappen. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will be the main competitors arguing against such an order.

Additional Information For Beginners On The Dutch Grand Prix 2024

So, here are tips for Formula 1 new fans to watch the Netherlands race.

• Prepare yourself in advance of the weekend.

So make sure you know where to watch all the events. You can switch to F1 TV Pro if you can’t watch Formula 1 on your local TV, but remember it is a paid option.

• Each day is for the purpose:

Remember, the practice sessions and qualifying are important, even though those seem to be less thrilling than a Grand Prix.

During the practice sessions, drivers try the cars, finding the proper settings for the best results.

Qualifying forms the starting grid for Sunday, where the position difference makes sense. It is simpler to pass a faster lap on Saturday than to overtake the opponent for a place on Sunday.

• Keep in mind key points.

Focus on the thrilling sections of the track, such as Tun 3 and 14, which are the most dangerous zones.

Stick with drivers and teams with the most chances to reach the top five. We counted three teams to suit the goal, Ferrari and Aston Martin alongside Red Bull, Mclaren, and Mercedes to compete. Moreover, Zandvoort is the place where everything is possible despite the starting position being decisive.

What’s more? As a beginner, you can check the entire Dutch Grand Prix Schedule weekend, which Formula 1 officially provides. Also, if you’re struggling with terms, check out our F1 jargon guide.