Connect with us

Formula 1

The Curious Case of Formula 1 in India

What if I told you you could have watched F1 on Doordarshan? Or that we could have had a Hyderabad Gp or even a Mumbai GP long before the Indian GP at Buddh? Surprising right

Published

on

The Curious Case of Formula 1 in India

India has seen significant growth in its motorsport culture over the past decade. The popularity of racing events like the Indian Grand Prix, which was held first in 2011, demonstrated the immense interest and enthusiasm of Indian fans. Bringing Formula 1 back to India would further fuel this passion and contribute to the development of motorsport in the country. The introduction of Drive To Survive in 2018 only accelerated the growth. When it comes to F1 fan bases around the world, India ranked 5th largest in 2019[1]. But it still doesn’t have an official broadcaster in the country nor do we have an Indian GP. Ever wondered what went wrong? Or what could have been?

1. Broadcasting: Doordarshan to F1TV

Let’s go back to the times when F1 was in India. It all started back in 1995. Schumacher had just won his first championship the previous year, and the world was mourning the passing of Senna. Damon was upset about the Australian GP, and India was about to experience its first live Formula 1 event. Vicky Chandhok, a familiar name, as he’s the father of Karun Chandhok, had his own production house that held the broadcasting rights for F1 races in India.

However, there was a problem. Cable TV had only been introduced in India three years prior, and Chandhok had to decide whether to offer F1 as pay-per-view or show it on the national network, Doordarshan. They chose the safer option of broadcasting F1 on Doordarshan, but it wasn’t easy. Prasar Bharti, the parent organization of Doordarshan, wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about showcasing car racing during their prime-time television slots. Eventually, Vicky had to pay Doordarshan just to broadcast Formula 1 on their network, marking the first live telecast of F1 in India.

However, this arrangement didn’t last long. At that time, F1 cars prominently featured tobacco sponsorships, which became a problem when the Indian parliament decided that promoting such products on television wasn’t ideal. As a result, the broadcasts were abruptly discontinued.

Later on, the broadcasting rights for F1 shifted to ESPNStar, which was known as Star Sports in the early 2000s. Interestingly, many new F1 fans might not be aware that India used to have its own pre and post-race shows, separate from the world feed. Steve Slater became a household name in India as he became the voice of F1 in the country. [2]

Steve Slater - the unsung hero of Formula 1
Steve Slater for Star Sports

However, after ESPNStar transformed into what we now know as Star Sports, the decline in F1 broadcasting began. Investments in Formula 1 were reduced, the pre and post-race shows were canceled, and Indian commentators were lost. Eventually, Indian fans were left with only the international feed, which was also discontinued in 2023 when Star Sports didn’t renew the contract with F1. As a result, Indian fans were left with no option but to subscribe to F1TV in order to watch the sport.

2. Hyderabad: Biryani, Charminar and Formula 1?

Transporting us back to the early 2000s, a time of shifting cultural landscapes and technological advancements, Formula 1 found itself in the spotlight of discussions for a potential race in Hyderabad. Chandrababu Naidu, the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, embarked on a three-day trip to Italy during the Italian GP weekend in an ambitious attempt to bring Formula 1 to Hyderabad as early as 2006. During his visit, he met with Bernie Ecclestone and Herman Tilke, successfully securing Ecclestone’s acceptance to visit Hyderabad and finalize the deal. In fact, a preliminary agreement was even signed, setting the stage for hosting F1 races in the city from 2007 onwards[3]. Simultaneously, Sharad Pawar, the former CM of Maharashtra, announced that Mumbai would also bid for a race, claiming that it possessed better existing infrastructure and was more suited to host a race in the near future[4].

Naidu on fast track - India Today
N. Chandrababu Naidu with Michael Schumacher’s trainer Balbir Singh

However, for Hyderabad to successfully host a Formula 1 race, significant infrastructural improvements were required. These included an international airport, an expressway connecting the airport to the race track, five-star accommodations for the entire grid comprising teams, officials, journalists, and media teams, as well as an international standard trauma center to ensure safety during the event. Additionally, a race track that met all the safety regulations set by the FIA was of utmost importance.[5]

Despite the ambitious plans, the anticipated cost of $200 million posed a significant obstacle. Moreover, the plight of millions of farmers facing a severe drought added to the challenges. Ultimately, Chandrababu Naidu’s dream of bringing an F1 race to his state faded away with his defeat in the 2004 elections. Similarly, Mumbai’s bid for an F1 race also faced a similar fate, as the government showed little interest in allocating hundreds of millions of dollars for motorsports ventures.

3. It’s here! Indian GP Gurgaon 2010 Noida 2011

In June 2007, following extensive negotiations between the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Bernie Ecclestone, it was officially announced that India would host a Formula 1 race in the 2009 season. The chosen location for the race was Gurgaon, and the track design was entrusted to the renowned Hermann Tilke. However, in September of the same year, a change in plans emerged, and it was decided that the race would instead debut in 2010 at the Buddh International Circuit.

The Curious Case of Formula 1 in India
Charles Pic, Caterham CT03 Renault, Indian Grand Prix 2013

Unfortunately, due to delays in land acquisition and construction works, the inaugural Indian Grand Prix was once again postponed, this time for an additional year. The timeline was incredibly tight, with the circuit’s inauguration occurring just a few weeks prior to the October 2011 Indian Grand Prix.[6]

4. Empty your pockets.

Jaypee Group, the owners of the track, invested approximately $463 million at that time in the construction of the circuit, aiming to recoup their investment as quickly as possible [7] . Additionally, they had to pay around $50 million just to secure a spot on the Formula 1 calendar. Consequently, ticket prices for the event were set quite high. During the inaugural race, the cheapest ticket was priced at Rs 2,500, while the Main Grandstand boasted a staggering Rs 35,000 price tag. However, due to poor sales, organizers later reduced the Main Grandstand ticket price to Rs 15,000 for the Race Day. Regardless, the inaugural race drew a crowd of approximately 1 lakh people.

In the following year, both ticket prices and attendance decreased. The cheapest ticket for the 2012 Indian Grand Prix was available for Rs. 2,000 on the Race Day, with the most expensive grandstand tickets priced at Rs. 12,000 for Sunday. Customers also had the option to purchase a season pass for all three days of the weekend, ranging from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 21,000 [8].

Formula 1: 2013 Airtel Indian Grand Prix ticket bookings open | India.com
Tickets for the 2013 Indian GP

However, in the third year, attendance rebounded. The race attracted a total of 85,000 people, and ticket prices were made even more affordable. The cheapest and most expensive tickets for the race day were priced at Rs. 1,500 and Rs. 12,000, respectively, while the season pass for the entire weekend ranged from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 21,000. [9]

5. Did you pay your tax?

Despite the challenging economic conditions, Jaypee remained committed to its plans and invested approximately Rs 2,000 crore (USD 314 million) in the construction of the Buddh International Circuit on the outskirts of Delhi. According to the audited accounts of Jaypee Sports International Limited (JPSI), the company also paid a licensing fee of Rs 197.7 crore (USD 31.1 million) for the inaugural race, a figure that increased to Rs 249.6 crore (USD 39.1 million) by the third edition, indicating the presence of an escalation clause in the contract.

Additionally, the inaugural race incurred operating expenses of Rs 121 crore (USD 19 million), bringing the combined costs well beyond Rs 300 crore (USD 47 million).

The exact amount of taxes paid by JPSI for hosting the race is difficult to determine as the relevant figures are not segregated in the accounts from other company activities. However, leading Indian media outlets estimated custom duties to be somewhere between Rs 8 – 10 crore (USD 1.25 – 1.57 million). The government later dropped this tax in 2014, a few months after the last Indian Grand Prix.

In terms of revenue, the promoters were only able to recover Rs 140 crore (USD 21.2 million) from the 2011 Indian Grand Prix, despite attracting a crowd of 95,000 fans to the event. The figure dropped to nearly half at Rs 76 crore (USD 11.5 million) in 2012 but recovered substantially to Rs 113 crore (USD 17.1 million) in 2013.

By this time, Jaypee had managed to reduce the operational expenses of the circuit, bringing the total cost of staging the event down to Rs 273 crore (USD 42.91 million). However, the conglomerate still had to write off losses of Rs 160 crore (USD 25.13 million), without considering taxes. [10]

6. “WE WERE ON A BREAK”

There were numerous other challenges to overcome as well apart from the tax issues. Dealing with customs to import equipment for the race teams proved to be a headache, with Ferrari even attributing their loss in the 2012 race to the delay in obtaining critical parts. The visa process was also unforgiving, as Karun Chandhok revealed in an interview with the BBC, stating that numerous media personnel and team members were unable to attend the race due to visa complications.

“Just this week, I have had at least 50 different media people from around the world, and people from teams, engineers who have called me to say, ‘Hey, we are stuck in London without a visa, we can’t come to the race” Karun Chandhok told BBC [11]

In 2014, Formula 1 initially sought to schedule a race in March instead of October, but the organizers were not prepared to host the event twice within a span of six months. However, they eventually agreed to the change. Unfortunately, the Indian Grand Prix was ultimately dropped from the calendar for that year, with Bernie Ecclestone citing bureaucratic and political issues as the primary reasons for excluding India from the 2014 F1 calendar [12] . Despite assurances that the race would return in 2015, it never materialized.

Furthermore, the owners of the track, Jaypee Group, encountered financial difficulties. As of March 31, 2015, the conglomerate’s total debt was estimated to be around Rs 75,000 crores, according to foreign brokerage firm Credit Suisse. To alleviate the debt burden, Jaypee Group opted to sell some of its cement and hydro-power plants. [13]

7. So long, farewell?

So, what’s next for the Formula 1 in India? One of the biggest misconceptions people have is that the Indian government considers Formula 1 or motorsports in general as entertainment rather than a sport. While it’s true that F1 was taxed as entertainment during its time in India, that was only at the state government level, not the central government. In 2015, the Indian government officially recognized motorsports as a sport when they included the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), the governing body of motorsports in the country, in the list of sports ministry-backed national sports federations [15] .

Image
CM Yogi Adityanath unviels ticket for India’s first MotoGP race.

It’s difficult to say for certain when the Indian Grand Prix might make a comeback, but considering the recent debut of Formula E and MotoGP in India in 2023, it doesn’t seem too far-fetched. Formula E is receiving support from the Telangana government, while MotoGP has been assured by the Uttar Pradesh government—something that Formula 1 didn’t have during its time here. These are promising signs. With proper planning and support, the return of Formula 1 to India is within reach, although there are other factors to consider. Even if India is the perfect place to host an F1 race, it’s not guaranteed to secure a slot in the super hectic 24-race calendar that F1 currently has. Nevertheless, we remain hopeful that F1 will make its way back to the country soon.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Formula 1

Max Verstappen – A silent protest against the FIA

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Formula 1

Monza GP: F1 back at the Cathedral of Speed

Published

on

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

Make sure to follow DesiRacingCo to never miss a motorsport update.

Continue Reading

Formula 1

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

Published

on

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:

Follow DesiRacingCO on X to never miss a motorsport update. To know more about other motorsports, visit https://desiracingco.in/

Continue Reading

Trending