Max Verstappen Samples New Dutch GP Track In Old RB8 F1 Car

Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen became the first driver to take a Formula 1 car out on the newly renovated Zandvoort circuit, home of this year’s Dutch Grand Prix. The world’s top tier of motorsport is set to return to the Netherlands for the first time in 35 years on May 3rd.

Verstappen took the title-winning Red Bull RB8 car around the track, joining two-time Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk for the re-opening.

The Zandvoort circuit has been modified for Formula 1, most notably in Turns 3 (Hugenholtz) and in the final corner (Arie Luyendyk), both featuring steep and challenging banking.

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“It was a great opportunity to be the first person to drive an F1 car at the new Zandvoort Circuit and the track is really cool – especially Turn 3 where the banking is amazing. I didn’t expect the banking to be that big, but it’s really cool to drive an F1 car on,” said Verstappen.

“The last corner is the same. It’s also pretty banked and with the new cars and DRS open through there it will be a good challenge and a lot of fun. The whole track is very demanding. There are a lot of fast corners and still not that much run-off. That makes it really challenging to go on the limit, but that’s good.”

The young Dutchman also took an Aston Martin DBS Superleggera for a spin with his father beside him, in celebration of the former Benetton and Minardi driver’s 48th birthday.

“He still doesn’t like it sitting next to me, so I didn’t take it to the limit. We were just talking and having some fun,” added the Red Bull Racing driver.