Ready, Set, Go: 2024 Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix

After a short break following the Belgium Grand Prix, this year’s Formula 1 World Championship is back on track with the next Grand Prix in line. This time the contestants moved to the Netherlands to participate in the Dutch Grand Prix that was held at the Circuit Zandvoort between 23 and 25 August 2024. 

The 2024 Formula One World Championship celebrates the 75th anniversary of the tournament. But it also stands out more than in one way. For example, this year the tournament will include 24 Grand Prix — a record number for the World Championship. 

While the number of Grand Prix per season isn’t regulated, the very first Formula One World Championship only consisted of seven: British Grand Prix, Monaco Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500, Swiss Grand Prix, Belgian Grand Prix, French Grand Prix, and Italian Grand Prix. Until 2024, the highest number of Grand Prix per season was 22, remaining the same for three consecutive World Championships – 2021, 2022, and 2023. 

This year, ten teams compete for the title of the World Champions. As the rules, commonly known in the racing world as “the formula”, dictate, each team has to enter a minimum of two drivers and two cars. Here is the full list of the 2024 contestants:

With the 14th race out of the 24 completed on 28 July in Belgium, the updated results looked like this:

Interesting Facts: Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix

The Netherlands tournament was officially launched as the Dutch Grand Prix in 1950 and was successfully held on the Circuit Zandvoort until 1985. Two years after its inauguration it was also included in the Formula One World Championship. In 1985 the tournament went on hiatus and only returned 35 years later, in 2021. 

The circuit measures 4.259 km (2.646 miles). As the race length is 306.587 km (190.504 miles), the drivers have to perform 72 laps. As of 2024, the Dutch Grand Prix has been held 35 times. 

History of the Dutch Grand Prix

The town of Zandvoort has a minor history of street racing in the first half of the 20th century. After World War II, some of the roads constructed by the Germans for military purposes were linked together and designed into a circuit. In the period when the European Grand Prix was an annual honorary designation, the Dutch Grand Prix was awarded with the title twice, in 1962 and 1976.

The hiatus occurred in 1985 after CENAV, the company that managed the circuit, went out of business. Part of the track was sold to a bungalow park developer, but was eventually redesigned and used for other motorsport disciplines.

The British racer Jim Clark has won the Dutch Grand Prix 4 times, making him the driver with most wins. The Italian Ferrari hold the same title but as the constructors, with 8 wins to their credit.

Other drivers with most recurring wins include: Jackie Stewart (UK), Niki Lauda (Austria), and Max Verstappen (Netherlands) with 3 wins each; Louis Rosier (France), Alberto Ascari (Italy), Jack Brabham (Australia), James Hunt (UK), Alain Prost (France) with 2 victories per driver. Out of these, Louis Rosier was crowned as the winner in 1950 and 1951, before the Grand Prix became part of the Formula One World Championship.

When it comes to the constructors, British Lotus is only two wins behind Ferrari, having won a total of 6 Dutch Grand Prix. McLaren (UK) and Red Bull (Austria) both have 3 wins to their credit, while Talbot-Lago (France), BRM (UK), Matra (France), and Brabham (UK) have each won the race twice. Again, Talbot-Lago had both its victories in 1950 and 1951, before the Formula 1 times.

In its previous edition, ten teams competed in the Dutch Grand Prix as part of the 2023 Formula One World Championship. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) driving for Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT won the pole position with 1:10.567. Fernando Alonso (Spain) driving for Aston Martin Aramco-Mercedes won the fastest lap with 1:13.837. The drivers taking places on the podium were:

1. Max Verstappen (Netherlands), team Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT 2:24:04.411
2. Fernando Alonso (Spain), team Aston Martin Aramco-Mercedes +3.744
3. Pierre Gasly (France), team Alpine-Renault +7.058

What the 2024 Event Had to Offer

As is the common practice, the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix consisted of three pre-race practices, a qualifying round, and the race itself. The first two races were held on 23 August, while the third one, as well as the qualifying round took place on 24 August. The race set the gears in motion on 25 August. 

While according to the weather forecast the temperature wasn’t expected to rise above 21°C on all three days, Friday and Saturday had 40% and 60% chance of rain respectively. However, on Sunday, the actual day of the race, this chance seemed to decrease to less than 20%. 

Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship Standing

Accumulating the results of the previous 14 Grand Prix held this season, the drivers were entering the Dutch Grand Prix with the following points:

For the constructors’ teams, the points standing looked the following:

Circuit Zandvoort

Circuit Zandvoort is the only circuit on the territory of the Netherlands that participates in the Dutch Grand Prix. It is located in dunes near the North Sea coastline in the province of North Holland. 

The main attractive point about the circuit is its corners. While many of them are fast and sweeping, the Tarzanbocht (translated as “Tarzan’s Corner”) is the most popular one, as it provides outstanding overtaking opportunities. Legend has it that the corner was named after a local resident who shared the nickname with the famous fictional character and only agreed to give up his vegetable garden in the dunes if his name was perpetuated in the design of the circuit.

2024 Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix Winners

Despite a mixed bag of mostly unfavourable weather conditions leading to the race, it started on 25 August as planned. The said weather conditions prevented Logan Sargeant from participating in the qualifying rounds, since he crashed during the third practice session. He was permitted to race at the stewards’ discretion. Alexander Albon initially placed eighth during the qualifying round but was later disqualified because of a technical incompliance of his car’s floor with the regulations. He was also permitted to race at the stewards’ discretion.

After 72 laps, Lando Norris (UK) driving for McLaren-Mercedes won the pole position with 1:09.673. He also bagged the victory for the fastest lap with 1:13.817 on lap 72. The places on the podium were distributed in the following way:

1. Lando Norris (UK), team McLaren-Mercedes
2. Max Verstappen (Netherlands), team Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT
3. Charles Leclerc (Monaco), team Ferrari

The points, as per the current regulations, were distributed among the first ten drivers in the following way:

Adding this to the points the drivers have accumulated during the previous 14 Grand Prix of the seasons, the drivers will be entering the 2024 Italian Grand Prix that starts off on 1 September with the following points:

The updated standing for the constructors is as follows:

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