This weekend, Zandvoort is hosting its fourth Dutch Grand Prix of F1's modern era but in a sense the legendary track still feels fresh and relatively new to teams.
After Spa's low-downforce environment which rounded off the first part of the season, teams are operating once again on a high-downforce circuit and everyone has fine-tuned their package accordingly.
But with overtaking at a premium around Zandvoort’s tight and twisty layout, relative top speed on the run down to Tarzan corner is a prime asset.
While Red Bull’s Sergio Perez topped the speed trap reading in qualifying, it’s interesting to note that Mercedes is also displaying healthy velocity this weekend, and that’s been a rare occurrence this season for the Brackley squad’s usually draggy W15.
Both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton’s strong pace in free practice, and the former’s P4 performance in qualifying, are evidence of the solid aero efficiency of Mercedes’ silver arrows, with the team opting for less drag but losing relatively little downforce.
Could this be an effect of the W15’s updated floor? Perhaps.
Looking at the top two contenders, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, there was but a small top speed delta between the pair in qualifying. But in terms of sector performance, the McLaren was almighty in S1 and in S3.
While Max struggled through S1, the three-time world champion was faster through S2, and particularly through the fast sweep Turn 7 where the RB20’s excellent downforce was put to good use.
In normal circumstances, either driver can take the win this afternoon, assuming Norris enjoys a strong launch off the line, his obvious Achilles Heel this season.
On the strategy front, with forecasts calling for a dry race and average ambient temperatures, teams will be looking at a one stopper, with medium-to-hard the most probable choice.
But racing along the shores of the Noordzee holds the potential for changing conditions, as we witnessed on Friday and Saturday. And with the weather being as unpredictable as a cat on a hot tin roof, this afternoon's Grand Prix could turn into a slip 'n slide for the ages.
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