Formula 1 returns from its summer break this weekend as the championship heads to the iconic Zandvoort circuit for the Dutch Grand Prix.
With the title battle intensifying and the second half of the season beginning, the grid will be looking to make a strong return to action at one of F1’s most challenging circuits.
The 2026 race weekend will also mark the final Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort for the foreseeable future, giving home favourite, Max Verstappen, one final opportunity to claim victory in front of his passionate supporters.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, including the weekend schedule and our predictions for the podium.
Weekend schedule
The Dutch Grand Prix will be the first sprint weekend at Zandvoort, meaning the traditional three-practice-session format has been replaced by a single practice session on Friday.
The weekend begins on Friday, August 21, with FP1 scheduled to start at 12:30 BST, followed by sprint qualifying at 15:30 BST.
Saturday will feature the sprint at 11:00 BST before qualifying gets underway at 15:00 BST.
The main race will take place on Sunday, August 23, with lights out scheduled for 14:00 BST.
The Grand Prix will run for 72 laps around the 4.259-kilometre circuit, taking roughly one hour and 30 minutes for the race to conclude.
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Race preview
Following a three-week summer break, Formula 1 returns to Zandvoort with the championship battle firmly in the spotlight.
Kimi Antonelli heads into the Dutch Grand Prix with a 50-point advantage over Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, while Mercedes team-mate George Russell sits third, nine points further behind.
However, the recent run of races has shown that Mercedes may no longer have the same level of dominance that defined the opening stages of the season.
Antonelli has won six of the first 11 races, including five consecutive victories, but the last five Grand Prixs have produced five different winners.
Lando Norris ended the run of Mercedes victories by winning in Hungary immediately before the summer break, and Zandvoort could provide another close contest.
Overtaking has traditionally been difficult at the narrow and twisty circuit, with every Dutch Grand Prix since F1 returned to the track in 2021 being won from pole position.
McLaren will also be hoping to continue its recent dominance at the circuit after Norris won in 2024 and Oscar Piastri claimed victory last year.
Meanwhile, Verstappen will be determined to give his home fans another memorable result in what will be the final Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
The Red Bull driver has finished first or second in all five Dutch Grands Prix since the circuit returned to the calendar, including three consecutive victories between 2021 and 2023.
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Podium predictions at Zandvoort
With several drivers capable of challenging for victory, the Dutch Grand Prix could provide a fascinating opening to the second half of the season.
Here are some of the names we can expect to see on the podium this weekend.
1 – Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
Verstappen heads into his final home Grand Prix at Zandvoort with plenty of motivation to finish his Dutch GP career on a high.
The four-time world champion has dominated the event since its return to the calendar, winning three consecutive races before finishing second behind McLaren in both 2024 and 2025.
Although Red Bull have struggled to match Mercedes consistently this season, Verstappen has still managed two second-place finishes, including at the Hungarian Grand Prix before the summer break.
With Zandvoort’s narrow layout making qualifying particularly important, Verstappen’s ability to extract maximum performance from his car over a single lap could make him a serious contender.
A fourth Dutch Grand Prix victory would also see him match Jim Clark’s record for the most wins at the event.
2 – Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
Antonelli returns from the summer break as the clear championship leader and will be looking to strengthen his advantage at Zandvoort.
The Italian has won six races this season, including five in a row, and Mercedes have taken pole position at all but one Grand Prix so far in 2026.
The sprint format could give Antonelli another opportunity to collect valuable points across the weekend.
However, Mercedes have yet to win at Zandvoort since the Dutch Grand Prix returned to the calendar, while their rivals have recently begun closing the performance gap.
Antonelli should still be among the favourites for a podium finish and could challenge for another victory if Mercedes maintain their qualifying advantage.
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3 – Lando Norris (McLaren)
Norris heads to Zandvoort on the back of a confidence-boosting victory in Hungary and will be looking to continue McLaren’s strong record at the circuit.
The Briton won the Dutch Grand Prix in 2024, while team-mate Piastri claimed victory last year, giving McLaren two consecutive wins at Zandvoort.
McLaren are also bringing the second part of an upgrade package introduced at the Hungarian Grand Prix, which could help the team challenge Mercedes and Red Bull once again.
With Norris entering the second half of the season with momentum on his side, another podium in the Netherlands could strengthen his position among the championship contenders.
4 – Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
Piastri remains another major threat at Zandvoort after winning last year’s Dutch Grand Prix.
The Australian led McLaren to victory in 2025 and will be hoping the team’s latest upgrades can help him rediscover the form that made him a regular winner earlier in the season.
Zandvoort’s high-speed corners should suit McLaren, while the sprint format provides Piastri with additional opportunities to score points throughout the weekend.
A strong qualifying performance will be particularly important, given the difficulty of overtaking around the circuit.
5 – Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
Hamilton completes our predicted top five after establishing himself as Antonelli’s closest championship challenger heading into the second half of the season.
The seven-time world champion sits second in the Drivers’ Championship, 50 points behind Antonelli, and has already claimed a victory in 2026.
Ferrari has shown enough pace this season to challenge at the front, although the team will need to improve its qualifying performance if Hamilton is to fight for victory at a circuit where track position is particularly valuable.
With the championship battle tightening and a sprint adding another opportunity to score points, Hamilton could be in contention for another strong result at Zandvoort.
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