Formula 1 returns to the Netherlands after 36 years. In fact, this weekend the race will take place on the historic but completely renovated Zandvoort track, built in the 1940s on the shores of the North Sea. In 1952 the first race of the F1 world championship took place, which then remained on the calendar until 1985. Of the original track, the first sector and the first part of the second remained ‘original’.
A major modernization was completed in the late 1990s, leading to the creation of the current track on which Formula 1 has never raced. To bring the sport here, another major modernization of the circuit began at the end of 2019 and was completed in the first half of 2020, the year in which the first edition of the modern era of the Dutch GP should have taken place if not for Covid.
The Italian company Dromo, owned by Jarno Zaffelli, has modernized the track, which has maintained the previous macro-layout, while making changes to many corners, the most impacting on the last two.
The track, with its 4259 meters, is one of the shortest in the world, second only to Monaco. Next Sunday, 72 laps will be covered for a total of 306 km.
Although they have only tried it to the simulators, the drivers seem to like it a lot, especially for the two elevated roads (turns 3 and 14). The Dutch track is a difficult one that will put them to the test. Also from the point of view of the physique, especially the neck, considering that the stresses in some turns could exceed 5G.
Zandvoort will certainly be an excellent track for qualifying. As for the race, experts have dissimilar evaluations. There are those who believe, including many drivers, that we will see a rather boring Grand Prix with very few overtaking opportunities and then there are those who instead have the possibility of overtaking thanks to a second DRS zone introduced, in addition to the canonical one on the main straight, between turns 10 and 11 on a straight, it is quite short (500 meters), but which could bring the drivers closer. Which will then enter only three other turns (11, 12 and 13), before entering full throttle on the final flyover that will lengthen the start / finish straight by 678 meters to over 1000 meters. And beware that the FIA could extend the DRS area of the main straight onto part of the flyover.
Scuderia Ferrari believes that the Dutch track is the most suitable circuit for their cars in the current triple-header (Spa, Holland and Monza). In fact, in Zandvoort it will not be so necessary to seek an aerodynamic compromise at all costs; the medium / high downforce set-up will be the solution for most of the teams. At least initially, also to evaluate the conditions in terms of track grip.
In general, however, it will be very important for the teams to have worked very well on the simulator, in determining the set-up of the cars since no team has historical data to rely on.
For Ferrari, in addition to what has been said above, the Maranello team should also consider the lower impact on the lap time from the power unit compared to the appointment at Spa and what will come from Monza. Only two straights, like at Montmelò.
On the contrary, the fact that the Dutch circuit is located directly overlooking the North Sea, on undulating terrain of dunes, means that there is often wind and that the sand moves towards the track, making it dirty and ‘green’. Wind and slippery track have never been great positive technical factors for the SF21 front, to be balanced with the ever better rear.
The official weather forecasts of the FIA, to date, however, indicate rather weak winds and above all a rather low risk of rain. Even the temperatures will not be high, with the race day expected to be the hottest, with 21 ° C degrees, while in the previous two days the sky will often be cloudy with sporadic bright spells, especially on Friday (18 ° C).
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