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Spanish Grand Prix 2024: European triple-header kicks off at Circuit de-Catalunya Barcelona

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Spanish Grand Prix 2024: European triple-header kicks off at Circuit de-Catalunya Barcelona


Heading to Spain, Red Bull looks to win for 3rd Straight time. McLaren aims to continue their impressive form that was displayed at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. While Ferrari would like to forget the previous GP and come back on top.


The Spanish Grand Prix kicks off the triple header, as the European leg of the season starts. Red Bull’s recent technical woes and potential penalties cast a shadow over their dominance. Can they regain control, or will Ferrari capitalize on their momentum and a Barcelona track suited to their car? McLaren, the season’s surprise, and an upgraded Mercedes add spice to the mix, making this Spanish showdown a true test for all contenders.

Know The Circuit

Spanish Grand Prix 2024: European triple-header kicks off at Circuit de-Catalunya Barcelona


The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, a 4.657 kilometer (2.894 mile) masterpiece nestled near Barcelona, Spain, is renowned for its ability to push both car and driver to their limits. Long stretches of high-speed straights, like the 1,047-meter pit straight, set the stage for exhilarating battles in acceleration and DRS-assisted overtaking maneuvers into the first turn, a crucial braking zone. Maintaining control and aerodynamic efficiency is paramount as drivers navigate a series of medium and high-speed corners, with Turns 3 and the Campsa corner complex (Turns 9 and 10) proving particularly challenging tests of a car’s balance and setup.

But Barcelona isn’t just about raw speed. Sharp chicanes like La Caixa (Turns 13 and 14) demand lightning-fast reflexes and precise steering inputs to maintain momentum through these tight turns. The final sector truly separates the skilled from the merely fast. Here, a combination of slow hairpins and medium-speed corners puts tire management at a premium. Drivers must find the perfect balance between pushing their car for optimal performance and preserving tire life for the crucial latter stages of the race.

This diverse layout ensures the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a true test for all contenders. Teams need to meticulously craft a car with a well-rounded package, striking a crucial balance between downforce for the technical sections and a low-drag configuration for the high-speed straights.


Red Bull Chasing Consistency in Barcelona: Verstappen Leads, But Can They Follow?


Red Bull arrives in Barcelona with a spring in their step, thanks to Max Verstappen’s dominant win in Canada. Verstappen leads the driver’s championship comfortably, showcasing the raw speed of the RB17. However, beneath the celebratory surface, cracks are beginning to show.

Spanish Grand Prix 2024: European triple-header kicks off at Circuit de-Catalunya Barcelona
Max Verstappen and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrate victory after the Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool)


Reliability remains a concern. Sergio Perez’s retirement in Canada due to Perez’s late-race crash and 3-place grid penalty for the upcoming weekend. This makes it even harder for him to support Verstappen, especially on a track like Barcelona where overtaking is notoriously difficult.

Marko initially wanted Perez to wait for a contract extension so he would not slack off. This did happen in Canada. Marko said:
“He didn’t have to comply. We extended his contract because we wanted to bring calm to our team. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out. But now Checo has three races before the at three real circuits, so he can prove himself.”
Perez finished no further than eighth in Imola and then failed to score any points in the Monaco and Canada Grands Prix, after crashing in both races. As a result, he is currently ahead of Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz in the F1 championship.


“Coming into Spain I know I need a successful weekend, after a disaster in Canada,” Perez looks ahead to the Spanish GP. “Sometimes you are forced to reset a little and we have done that since the last race. I have been in Milton Keynes working with the Team to try and identify where and what we can do better to ensure I am getting the most out of this car.”


Throughout what has been a relatively tricky last six weeks or so for the reigning constructors’ champions, Red Bull have regularly hinted they expect things to run far more smoothly from this point onwards. The characteristics of the track in Barcelona, one of F1’s most used circuits for testing, are expected to suit the field-leading aerodynamic efficiency of the RB20.


Ferrari: Back on Track in Barcelona? (Maybe)


Ferrari arrives in Spain desperate to bounce back from a disastrous Canadian Grand Prix. A double retirement for Leclerc and Sainz left them empty-handed. However, there’s a flicker of hope as historically, the Circuit de Barcelona has suited their car’s characteristics.

The focus for Ferrari will be on reliability. They need to address the gremlins that plagued them in Canada to challenge for the win. Barcelona’s long straights should favor their powerful engine, but can they translate raw pace into race-day results?
While Ferrari has seemingly made strides this season, Vasseur warned against letting complacency creep into the situation.


“We have to continue like this, but the worst-case scenario would be to imagine that it’s done, that it will be like this until the end. We are competing more with McLaren or Red Bull and it will be up and down until the end of the season.
“We have to score good points when we are not at the top and to be able to win when we are there. But nothing changes.”


Reports out of Italy suggest that Ferrari is trying to speed up planned upgrades in order to be ready for the Spanish Grand Prix. New parts designed to improve speed were expected to be in place for the July 7 British Grand Prix.
But rather than waiting two more races, Ferrari is hoping to complete those upgrades immediately and roll them out in Barcelona. It seems that a double elimination led to enough frustration within the team that Ferrari decided not to wait two more races to make improvements.


Ferrari’s objective is for the updated floor to improve low speed-performance. It is almost certain that both drivers will have the new specifications. In addition to the new floor, we should see changes to the rear bodywork, tray area and ramps towards the diffuser, as well as improved small deflector elements.

This is an important step forward, which should respond to McLaren’s attack and repel the progress at Mercedes. Ferrari hopes to improve aerodynamic efficiency and load quality – which should allow them to keep the pressure on Verstappen. As always, the Barcelona circuit should provide a good verdict on the quality of work done.
Leclerc trails Verstappen in the championship, and a strong showing in Spain is crucial. Teammate Sainz, racing at his home Grand Prix, will be pushing hard to add some much-needed points for the Scuderia. Can Ferrari overcome their recent struggles and reignite their championship challenge?

McLaren: Momentum Masters in Spain?


McLaren heads to Barcelona riding a wave of momentum. Lando Norris’ maiden win in Miami and consistent podium finishes since have propelled them into third place in the constructors’ championship.

The key for McLaren will be adapting their car to the demands of the Circuit de Catalunya. While their car excels on street circuits, Barcelona’s mix of high-speed corners and long straights presents a different challenge. Can they find the right setup to maintain their recent strong performances?
Reports suggest McLaren will introduce a new floor designed to improve tire warm-up. This could be a game-changer for them in Spain. A well-functioning floor generates aerodynamic downforce that helps manage airflow over the tires, influencing their temperature and grip levels. Regarding the upgrades, in the upcoming races, Stella revealed:


“For the coming races, we will have some upgrades, but they won’t be a single kind of big upgrade like we have seen over the last 12 months. This is more some individual components where we found a little bit of performance and rather than waiting to deploy everything together once ready we take it track side. So I won’t say what but we will see some new stuff coming over the few coming races.”


Norris sits comfortably behind Leclerc in the driver’s standings, and a strong showing in Spain could see him close the gap. Teammate Oscar Piastri has also been impressive, consistently scoring points. McLaren needs to capitalize on their current form and translate it into consistent results.
Can McLaren maintain their momentum and solidify their position as the best of the rest, or will the unique demands of Barcelona expose weaknesses in their car?


Are Mercedes really back?

Following the Canadian Grand Prix, Mercedes had their finest weekend of the 2024 season. With a second-place finish after starting on pole, George Russell gave the team its first podium of the season, and teammate Lewis Hamilton’s fourth-place finish, along with the bonus point for the fastest lap of the race, helped the Silver Arrows earn 28 points over the course of the weekend in Montreal.


Mercedes has been trying to make upgrades all season long and is set to introduce a new floor upgrade for the Spanish Grand Prix, following the success of a new front wing introduced recently. The new front wing has improved the balance characteristics of the car and suggested progress in understanding the current ground effect machinery. The team is happy with the progress that has been made thus far. With further developments planned, including the new floor, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff expressed optimism that the team is moving away from past difficulties where improvements didn’t meet expectations.

Previewing this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff outlined

“We have continued to make incremental gains across the past few races. It was encouraging therefore to take another positive step forward in Canada,”
“Now directionally we seem to be adding performance every weekend and we have new stuff coming also, new parts coming in Barcelona that should help us. So I would very much hope that we can continue this positive trajectory.”


Carlos Sainz’s future
Two Formula One teams are making offers to Carlos Sainz, but they won’t hold out for long, and the Spanish Grand Prix, also a home race, is widely regarded as his chance to make a commitment to his career.

Sainz has to choose whether to commit to Audi, which is taking over the Sauber team ahead of the 2026 season, or give up on the possibility of a place at Mercedes. Nevertheless, it seems that a lot of rebuilding work is needed despite the abundance of resources available, not to mention the need to create a brand-new power unit that can rival the latest generation from well-known suppliers like Mercedes, Ferrari, and Honda.


That might be forcing Sainz toward Williams, which, although being at the end of the grid right now, is undergoing an amazing makeover under James Vowles’ leadership, supported by funding from owners Dorilton Capital. The team anticipates that this will result in better performance when 2026 and 2027 roll around. Additionally, it hopes to gain from the brand-new power units that go into service in 2026. Williams’ agreement ensures that Mercedes, which had the best unit by a wide margin following the most recent significant regulation change in 2014, will continue to provide it
But Sainz’s decision is only the beginning. His pick might serve as the catalyst for a chain reaction of driver actions, with the team Sainz rejects then going for their second option and possibly causing more moves that will fill several of the eight open spots on the 2025 grid.

Weather Conditions


FRIDAY, JUNE 21 – FP1 AND FP2
Maximum temperature expected: 26 Celsius
Minimum temperature expected: 16 Celsius

SATURDAY, JUNE 22 – FP3 AND QUALIFYING
Maximum temperature expected: 27 Celsius
Minimum temperature expected: 17 Celsius


SUNDAY, JUNE 23 – THE RACE
Maximum temperature expected: 23 Celsius
Minimum temperature expected: 17 Celsius

Weekend Schedule

You can watch all the sessions live on F1TV or Fancode. The detailed schedule is given below:

Formula 1

Max Verstappen – A silent protest against the FIA

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Max Verstappen - A silent protest against the FIA

The three-time world champion, Max Verstappen was ordered ‘community service’ yesterday by the FIA Stewards for ‘swearing’ in the Thursday Press Conference. Max was asked about the pace that Red Bull has during the Azerbaijan GP weekend and he responded with ‘I knew the car was f*****’.

Today after qualifying, Max Verstappen refused to take questions or gave blunt answers in the official FIA ‘Post-Qualifying Press Conference’ and urged the journalist to ‘ask these questions outside of the room.’ Max kept his promise and took questions outside of the Press Conference room.

This move has earned him praises from several journalists that were present in the official Press Conference.

Earlier in the week, Talking Exclusively to Motorsport.com FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has revealed he is making moves to try to change the tone of the content that is aired to fans.

“I mean, we have to differentiate between our sport – motorsport – and rap music,” Ben Sulayem said. “We’re not rappers, you know. They say the F-word how many times per minute? We are not on that. That’s them and we are [us].”

When the F1 drivers were asked about the comment made by Ben Sulayem, Most of the drivers made the disagreement clear that stated that they are unhappy with the stance being taken by the FIA. Lando Norris has warned that F1 will lose the ‘rawness’ if the FIA clamps down on swearing. The seven-time champion, Lewis Hamilton went as far as to accuse the FIA president to have used words of ‘stereotypical’ and ‘racial element’.

“I don’t like how he expressed it. Saying that rappers is very stereotypical and if you think about it, most rappers are black and that really kind of points it towards, when it says: ‘We are not like them’. So I think those are the wrong choice of words. There is a racial element there.” – Lewis Hamilton

The FIA’s President Mohammed Ben Sulayem stance is being ridiculed by not just the Drivers, but also the media and the fans around the world. Although Ben Sulayem has said that the current measures are being taken to combat online abuse, The FIA should find an alternate approach to do the same.

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Formula 1

Monza GP: F1 back at the Cathedral of Speed

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monza
credits: Scuderia Ferrari on X

The last time the F1 paddock went racing, we were treated with a dominant run of performance. The only difference was this that this time it was not Max Verstappen at the head of it. Lando Norris had a fantastic run of performance and became the measuring scale of performance. This week, at the Monza GP, we are expecting nothing less. What are all the expected news and what has happened since the last race weekend, catch it all in this F1 Race weekend preview.

TITLE FIGHT

The most significant change that has been seen in the second part of the season is how much the Championship fight has changed.

Monza GP: F1 back at the Cathedral of Speed
credits: @F1 on X

Max Verstappen currently sits at P1 with 295 points to his name, 70 points ahead of his nearest rival Norris. This looks a big gap for F1 standards but when you consider the massive development that Mclaren has undergone lately, its game on. On the Teams side of things, its close as ever. Redbull Racing are leading with just a 30 point buffer to Mclaren Racing, truly hinting at a fight incoming.

Ferrari in new colors

The crowd favourite for the weekend, Scuderia Ferrari, have revealed new suits and a tweaked livery for the Monza GP.

The Tifosi, as the Ferrari fans proudly call themselves, show up in huge numbers to suport their team every time. On the performance side, Ferrari have been doing better lately with Leclerc scoring a podium at the last race. They are currently sitting in P3, 34 points away from second placed Mclaren. Emotions are also up for Carlos Sainz, who is attending his last Monza GP in Ferrari colors.

Mercedes second seat about to be announced

Many sources have been hinting at a potential announcement of Mercedes protege Andrea Kimi Antonelli for the second seat at Mercedes F1.

Monza GP: F1 back at the Cathedral of Speed
Andrea Kimi Antonelli (L) Toto Wolff (R); credits: Jiri Krenek

In other news, Kimi is also going to take a go in FP1 in Russell’s car. All this seat time will help him get familiar with the know-how of F1. Both the current Mercedes drivers have been full of praise for the Italian, with Hamilton saying he’s excited to see the youngster progress.

Renault personnel to protest at Monza GP

Renault employees are about to protest against the plans of the administration to shut down its F1 operations.

There is also about to be a peaceful protest in the grandstands of the Monza GP. These protests are coming up as the rumors of Alpine switching to Mercedes engines is floating. Also, there has been many personnel changes in the Alpine administration, with most recent change being the stepping down of Bruno Famin, the Team prinicipal of Alpine.

Williams make the change, Sargeant out of F1

Perhaps the biggest bombshell that has dropped this weekend is Williams dropping Logan Sargeant for the rest of the season with immediate effect.

He is being replaced by William Driver academy driver Franco Colapinto. Colapinto was participating in F2 till yet and is P6 in the F2 Championship. With Carlos Sainz set to join Williams for the next season, this news surprised us fans as Colapinto is being given the seat just for a period of 9 races. One person that will be elated will be Colapinto himself, ofcourse. After Sargeant, he has got the perfect opportunity to settle and prove himself at the world stage. Now whether he manages to make full use of this opportnity will be a wait-and-watch affair.

When and Where to watch

All the sessions will streamed on F1TV and Fancode in India.

Monza GP: F1 back at the Cathedral of Speed

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Formula 1

Dutch GP 2024: Norris triumphs in a thrilling race at Zandvoort

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Dutch GP 2024: Norris triumphs in a thrilling race at Zandvoort
Lando Norris won the Dutch GP in dominant fashion; credits: Mclaren F1

The 2024 Dutch GP saw exciting action, unpredictable strategies, and unexpected podium finishes, making it one of the most memorable races of the season. In front of his home crowd, Max Verstappen faced intense competition but couldn’t secure the win, leaving Lando Norris to take the top step of the podium. Here’s a detailed look at how the weekend happened.


Drama Unfolds at Zandvoort

The 2024 Formula 1 season continued its thrilling run as the drivers headed to the tight and technical Circuit Zandvoort. With its narrow, undulating track, this race was expected to challenge both driver skill and team strategy. While Verstappen, racing in front of his home fans, was the favorite, McLaren’s rising form and Lando Norris’ pace posed a serious threat. Rainy conditions added to the unpredictability, making strategy a key player throughout the weekend.

Free Practice 1: A McLaren Statement

Lando Norris set the fastest time in the first practice session (FP1) of the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix, navigating tricky mixed conditions to clock a 1:12.947. The session was interrupted by a brief rain shower, making tyre strategy and timing crucial for all teams.

Dutch GP
Carlos Sainz; credits: @f1 on X

Max Verstappen finished just 0.130s behind Norris in second place, while Lewis Hamilton showed promising pace, securing third with a time of 1:13.063. The damp track early on led to some drivers struggling with grip, with a few minor off-track moments, including one for Charles Leclerc. The ever-changing weather at Zandvoort added an element of unpredictability, setting the stage for what could be a thrilling weekend.

Russell leads close-fought FP2 as Teams fine-tune setup for Dutch GP

George Russell topped the timesheets in a competitive second practice session at the Dutch GP, clocking a best lap of 1:11.965. The Mercedes driver narrowly edged out Oscar Piastri, who finished just 0.137s behind, while Lewis Hamilton secured third with a 1:12.149, making it a strong session for the Silver Arrows.

Conditions remained dry throughout, allowing teams to focus on race simulations and tire setups after a mixed-weather FP1. Max Verstappen, the home favorite, ended FP2 in fourth, just 0.237s off the pace. The session saw close margins, with the top six drivers within 0.3 seconds of each other, hinting at a tightly contested weekend ahead. Drivers and teams used this crucial hour to better their setups for Saturday’s qualifying, with multiple drivers expressing satisfaction with their car’s balance heading into the rest of the weekend.

Gasly tops eventful FP3 as Sargeant’s Crash halts session

Pierre Gasly set the fastest time in a dramatic FP3 at Zandvoort, posting a lap of 1:12.305. The Alpine driver outpaced home favorite Max Verstappen, who finished second by just 0.069s, while Sergio Perez secured third place for Red Bull.

Dutch GP 2024: Norris triumphs in a thrilling race at Zandvoort
Gasly P1 and Seargent Crash (Image Source: formula 1)

The session was marred by a heavy crash from Logan Sargeant, who lost control at Turn 2 and slammed into the barriers, bringing out the red flag. Fortunately, the Williams driver walked away unscathed, but the accident shortened the session, with several drivers missing crucial setup time. Despite the disruption, teams managed to gather vital data ahead of qualifying, with Gasly’s performance offering a glimpse of his potential in the upcoming session.


Qualifying: Russell Shines, Norris on Pole

Lando Norris delivered a stunning performance to claim pole position at the 2024 Dutch GP, outpacing reigning champion Max Verstappen and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. In a thrilling qualifying session at Zandvoort, Norris’ remarkable lap secured his second career pole, setting the stage for an exciting showdown in Sunday’s race.

Q1:

The first qualifying session of the 2024 Dutch GP kicked off with the usual intensity, as drivers scrambled to set competitive times. Sergio Perez managed to top the timing sheets with a strong lap, despite some concerns over a potential impeding incident with Lewis Hamilton. The session saw several close calls, and unfortunately, Daniel Ricciardo was one of the notable names who missed out on advancing to Q2 by just over a tenth of a second. Joining him on the sidelines were Esteban Ocon, Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu, and Logan Sargeant. Sargeant was unable to participate after crashing in FP3, bringing an early end to his qualifying hopes.

Q2:

Lando Norris dominated Q2 with an impressive lap, beating his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri by a razor-thin margin of just 0.009 seconds. However, the session wasn’t as kind to others. Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton both failed to make it into the top 10 shootout. Sainz, in particular, was edged out in the final moments as late improvements from Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon knocked him out of contention. Yuki Tsunoda, Nico Hulkenberg, and Kevin Magnussen also found themselves eliminated, setting the stage for a tense final session.

Q3:

In the final showdown for pole position, Lando Norris put in a remarkable performance to secure the top spot with a blistering lap of 1:09.673. This stunning effort saw him beat local hero Max Verstappen by over three tenths of a second, a surprising margin given Verstappen’s usual dominance at his home circuit. Oscar Piastri capped off a strong session for McLaren by securing third place, while George Russell managed to take fourth. Sergio Perez slotted into fifth, followed by Charles Leclerc in sixth and Fernando Alonso in seventh, rounding off a thrilling and unpredictable qualifying session at Zandvoort.


Race

In a race brimming with drama, McLaren’s Lando Norris secured a commanding victory at the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix, shattering Max Verstappen’s unbeaten home streak in front of a stunned Zandvoort crowd. With sharp strategies, bold overtakes, and varying pit stop tactics, the race was one to remember.

Dutch GP 2024: Norris triumphs in a thrilling race at Zandvoort
Verstappen overtakes Norris (Image source: formula 1)

McLaren’s Moment: Norris dominates

After a steady qualifying session, Lando Norris lined up on the front row but quickly found himself in a chase as Verstappen jumped into the lead at the start. However, Norris remained focused, slowly chipping away at the reigning champion’s lead. By Lap 18, a daring DRS-assisted move saw Norris’s pass Verstappen and take the lead, much to the surprise of the Dutch fans.

From there, the McLaren driver never looked back, stretching his lead to a significant 22.8 seconds by the time the chequered flag waved. The team’s flawless strategy and his expert tire management allowed him to control the pace and seal his victory, making it one of the most significant wins of his career.

Oscar Piastri once again demonstrated his talent, keeping his McLaren in contention for much of the race. After pitting from the lead on Lap 33, Piastri found himself in a fierce battle with Leclerc for third. Though he couldn’t quite get past the Ferrari, Piastri secured a commendable fourth place finish, adding to McLaren’s strong showing.

Verstappen stumbles in front of home crowd

Max Verstappen, looking to extend his dominance at Zandvoort to a fourth consecutive year, initially seemed in control. He managed the early stages well, keeping Norris at bay and navigating the tight corners of the Zandvoort circuit with ease. However, Norris’ relentless pressure coupled with Red Bull’s sub-optimal strategy saw Verstappen fall behind.

Despite switching to hard tires on Lap 27, Verstappen couldn’t regain the upper hand as Norris steadily pulled away. Verstappen was left lamenting handling issues over the radio, commenting that the car “doesn’t respond to my inputs.” In the end, he finished second, a distant 22.8 seconds behind Norris—an uncharacteristic result for the Dutch champion at his home race. Horner told Sky Sports F1-

“Congrats to Lando and McLaren, their car was in a different league today, We did everything we could, Max converted P2 into a lead, but you could see their pace was in a different league.”

Ferrari’s Resilience—Leclerc Grabs the Final Podium Spot

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc had a rollercoaster weekend but ended it with a podium finish. After an impressive start, Leclerc fought his way into third, fending off a charging Oscar Piastri in the closing laps. His performance was one of determination and defense, holding onto the final podium place after a challenging race, a solid P3, a result that the Monegasque admitted he had not expected.

“[I’m] very, very surprised,” Leclerc explained immediately after the Grand Prix. “I’m not very often happy with P3, but I think with today’s race we can be extremely happy with the job we’ve done on a difficult weekend for the team.”

Meanwhile, teammate Carlos Sainz put on a brilliant display of overtaking, muscling past Sergio Perez’s Red Bull to take fifth place after a late-race battle. Ferrari’s strategic calls and aggressive driving earned them vital points as they continue to fight for constructors’ honors.

Dutch GP 2024: Norris triumphs in a thrilling race at Zandvoort
Chrales Leclerc scored a P3 at the Dutch GP; credits: @ScuderiaFerrari on X

Mercedes Struggles but Secures Points

For Mercedes, the Dutch GP was mixed. Lewis Hamilton, starting from a compromised grid position, fought his way through the field with a series of impressive overtakes, including one on Nico Hulkenberg at Turn 1. Despite struggling for straight-line speed, Hamilton made it into the top ten, finishing seventh after switching to soft tires late in the race to claim the fastest lap.

George Russell had a similarly challenging Dutch GP but managed to secure sixth, right behind Sainz and Perez. Russell’s consistent performance under pressure showed Mercedes’ persistence, even if they weren’t able to challenge for the podium this weekend.

The Midfield Battles – Gasly and Alonso Fight On

Behind him, the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso had a fierce scrap in the midfield.

Gasly’s daring moves earned him ninth place, while Alonso rounded out the points in tenth. The midfield battles were intense, with several wheel-to-wheel moments providing excitement throughout the race.

Drama and Disappointment in the lower order

Not everyone had a successful race at Zandvoort. Hulkenberg’s early momentum faded as he dropped out of the points, finishing in 11th place. The Haas driver could not keep pace with the top ten after a poor tyre strategy and a series of pit stops disrupted his rhythm.

Lance Stroll endured a penalty-ridden race, including a five-second pit lane speed penalty that saw him fall to 13th place after what could have been a points finish. Meanwhile, Williams’ Alex Albon, who started from the back of the grid due to a floor irregularity, finished just outside the points in 14th place after a commendable recovery drive.

At the back, Alfa Romeo’s weekend went from bad to worse, as both Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu finished two laps down, compounding the team’s struggles at the foot of the constructors’ standings.


The 2024 Dutch GP saw McLaren firmly establish itself as a force to be reckoned with, as Lando Norris took a commanding victory at the Dutch GP. Max Verstappen may have missed out on winning his home race, but his consistent performance keeps him well-positioned in the championship. For Mercedes and Ferrari, it was a weekend of mixed fortunes, with Russell showing flashes of brilliance but ultimately unable to challenge the McLarens and Red Bulls at the front. As the season moves forward, the rivalry between these top teams promises more electrifying races.

Next Stop: Monza—The Temple of Speed Awaits

The 2024 Formula 1 season heads to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix from August 30 to September 1. Known for its blistering speeds and passionate Tifosi, Monza’s high-speed straights and tight chicanes will push drivers and teams to the limit as the championship battle heats up.

Championship Standings after the race:

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