The action races towards the Netherlands for the Dutch Grand Prix after Lewis Hamilton returned to the top of the podium in Belgium with the Drivers’ Championship race heating up.
2024 Dutch Grand Prix
Sunday 25 August 2024 – 15:00
Circuit Zandvoort
Max Verstappen will be looking to bounce back in front of his home crowd when the field hits the Zandvoort Circuit this coming weekend.
The Dutch ace has struggled for form of late and has missed out on the podium in three of the last four races, while his last victory came back in June when he took race honours out in Barcelona.
Only 78 points separate him and second-placed Lando Norris and we could well be in for a very tasty battle for the Drivers’ and Constructors’ with only 42 points clear on the Constructors’ standings.
To Win Race Outright
Max Versatppen 7/4 | Lando Norris 37/20 | Oscar Piastri 5/1 | Lewis Hamilton 9/1 | George Russell 10/1 | Charles LeClerc 22/1
Previous Race – Belgium
Lewis Hamilton’s mid-season revival continued out in Belgium with the ‘Brit claiming his second win in three races as he brought his Mercedes home ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferriari’s Charles LeClerc.
It was one of those races packed with drama from start and up until a while after the race with George Russell, who had originally brought his car across the line first being disqualified for his car being underweight.
Max Verstappen, who had started P11 due to a penalty from the previous race, managed a respectable fourth-place finish. The Dutch Ace was joined in the ‘top 6’ by McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
Sergio Perez’s disappointing season continued as the Red Bull number two could only muster up a seventh-placed finish. While the final points-scoring positions went to veterans Fernando Alonso (eighth), Esteban Ocon (ninth) and Daniel Ricciardo (tenth).
Watch Oscar charge through the field, the lap one chaos and more!
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 30, 2024
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Track – Circuit Zandvoort
Built right next to the beach, the Zandvoort circuit has a certain charm to it. It kind of equates to the Saint-Andrews of the motorsport world with greenery and sand contrasting each other.
Make no mistakes though, the drivers aren’t in for a Sunday cruise as this track provides some real threats with several tricky turns (14 to be precise) leading up to a massive straight.
Last year’s race was won by Max Verstappen who has won every race staged in the country since it returned from a 36-year hiatus. He was followed across the line by the soon-to-be-retired Fernando Alonso, while Pierre Gasly rounded out the podium.
In terms of the weather conditions for this weekend, things are not looking good for the practice and qualifying sessions, although the current forecast is calling for clear skies on Sunday. With the track on the coast, weather conditions can change at any time and it’s certainly worth keeping an eye on local weather bureau forecasts.
Value Bet
Lewis Hamilton – Podium – Yes 12/10
Fresh off winning two of the last three Grand Prix, Hamilton surely has to be a decent bet for a podium berth. While his record isn’t great at the Dutch GP, he did manage a podium finish here in 2021. I’m backing him to double his podium tally in the Netherlands this weekend.
To Win Race Outright
Max Verstappen 7/4
He’s in uncharted territory at the minute having failed to win a race since June but I simply cannot go against the Red Bull man on his home track. He’s gone three from three here and I can see him making it four from four when all is said and done on Sunday. There’s also a bit of value affixed to his name this weekend.
