Five things to watch as F1 returns for Dutch Grand Prix

ZANDVOORT – After nearly a month off for the summer break, Formula One is back as fans, drivers and teams descend on the seaside resort of Zandvoort for this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.

With 10 races to go, the world championship is finely poised as McLaren stars Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris battle it out with only nine points separating them.

Here is a look at five talking points in the paddock ahead of the race.

Papaya rules?

Norris brilliantly won at Zandvoort in 2024 and few would bet against the Briton or Australian teammate Piastri taking the chequered flag on Aug 31, given McLaren’s dominance this season.

The duo are free to race each other under the team’s “papaya rules” – named after McLaren’s colours – which boil down to “don’t crash into each other”, according to Piastri.

But that is exactly what happened at the Canadian GP in June, and as the championship hots up, fans are keen to know whether McLaren will change their rules to favour one driver.

For now, the two have a good relationship – quickly patching up ties after Canada – but history shows that team spirit can quickly evaporate in the championship pressure cooker.

Assuming McLaren maintain their grip on the top places in the Netherlands, can Norris close the gap or even overtake the Australian, or will Piastri extend his lead?

Max is mad

World champion Max Verstappen finds himself in the unfamiliar position of coming to his home grand prix far from the favourite to win, facing a battle just to make the podium.

The Dutchman suffered a miserable weekend in 2024, failing to win for the first time since Zandvoort was reintroduced to the F1 circuit in 2021.

He spun his car in a wet first practice, lost pole to Norris, and finished more than 22 seconds off the pace – “just a bad weekend all round”, said a downcast Verstappen.

He even suffered the indignity of Norris mocking his trademark celebration, cheekily saying “simply lovely” over the team radio as he crossed the line.

The hordes of orange-clad fans will be hoping Verstappen can produce a trademark miracle drive to pull off a huge shock.

Lewis blues

Will Zandvoort be the place that seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton rediscovers his mojo?

The Ferrari driver raised eyebrows at the last grand prix in Hungary in early August by describing himself as “completely useless” and saying Ferrari should “bring in another driver”.

At the age of 40, could the pressure and expectation of his high-profile switch from Mercedes to the storied Ferrari team tip the racing legend into retirement?

Hamilton fans will be eager to see whether several weeks of rest and relaxation will have pepped up the legendary British driver, who still enjoys the backing of team boss Fred Vasseur.

Russell rumours

With the return of racing comes the inevitable gossip of who goes where next season.

With major changes coming to Formula One in 2026, many teams have been reluctant to shake things up too much – Verstappen, for example, committing to Red Bull just before the break.

But questions continue to swirl around George Russell, whose contract at Mercedes ends this season.

The Briton has said it’s a question of “when, not if” his contract is extended but until his future is assured, paddock gossip will rage.

Zany Zandvoort

Nestled in the dunes just a stone’s throw from the North Sea beach, Zandvoort is famous for two things: Its “orange army” of fans and its unpredictable weather.

Saturday’s practice in 2024 saw a biblical deluge drench fans and cause a fiery crash, as US driver Logan Sargeant destroyed his Williams in a high-speed spin.

Showers are forecast throughout this weekend, which may favour home hero Verstappen, known for his skill in wet-weather driving.

Whatever the weather, Dutch fans will be keen to savour the atmosphere while they can: Aug 31 will be the penultimate race ever at Zandvoort, with the grand prix soon leaving the calendar. AFP