With the Dutch Grand Prix returning to the Formula 1 calendar for at least three years starting next season, we reckon fans of the sport might enjoy seeing Max Verstappen do a quick lap there behind the wheel of an old, naturally aspirated RB8.
What you see in this footage will look a little different come next year, as the race track will undergo renovations in order to meet the standards of the FIA, courtesy of the town council and other partners.
Verstappen lapped Zandvoort in 1:19.511, setting an unofficial record and demolishing the old one by almost three seconds.
“It’s just an iconic, historic track,” said the young Dutchman. “I have raced there before with F3 and it was a lot of fun. I compare the track a little bit with Suzuka because it’s designed by the same person so I can understand that the characteristics are a bit similar. It’s a pretty quick track and it’s always good and exciting to have new ones on the calendar. I’ve done a few laps and donuts in an F1 car there too and the track was actually pretty challenging because you have a few banked corners, some places are very narrow and there’s no run off.”
“It’s very cool, and with no run off, it’s quite hard to find the limit. On some other tracks it’s a bit easier but that also makes it more exciting.”
Also read: Max Verstappen vs. Charles Leclerc – Who Will Win A Title First?
According to Autosport, Verstappen’s former teammate at Red Bull, Daniel Ricciardo, is a bit torn about Formula 1’s return to the Netherlands, saying that “to drive on it’d be fun but to race – with the width of the cars now it’s probably a bit like a street circuit through some places. It’ll be tricky to make a really exciting race.”
With Zandvoort being as narrow as it is, it might indeed make overtaking a bit tricky, which means that qualifying could prove crucial, as will in-race strategies.