Three weeks on from the final race weekend in Budapest, it’s race week once more because the 2025 season will get set to renew. The groups have all needed to decide to a two-week shutdown throughout August, however must be raring to go when the paddock reconvenes at Zandvoort.
Driver market motion
The motive force market is uncommon this yr, given the actual fact there are such a lot of confirmed seats for 2026 already. That’s a byproduct of the size of contracts that have been already in place, but additionally a wider want to have continuity in race seats from this yr to subsequent, with a view to not should combine a brand new driver similtaneously a vital regulation change.
The bizarre facet is the actual fact there’s a new workforce getting into in 2026, and so they should put in place a whole new driver line-up.
Cadillac would be the eleventh workforce on the grid subsequent season, and have been linked with a protracted checklist of drivers. Nearly all of them embody these with latest F1 expertise, however there have additionally been rookies and IndyCar winners which have been talked about in reference to the brand new entry.
Rumours {that a} resolution is shut have been gaining momentum throughout the summer time break, and we might quickly discover out who the primary pairing for Cadillac might be. Whoever they decide, it is going to be a easy case of enlargement, with two new seats and subsequently two further drivers attending to race subsequent yr.
The title battle resumes
Fourteen races down, 10 to go. The summer time break may usually really feel just like the midway level within the calendar, however in lots of senses it is a pause earlier than the run-in. The ultimate two European rounds are about to kick off, and after the double header of Zandvoort and Monza we might be heading into the ultimate third of the season.
Whereas no single Grand Prix pays extra factors than some other, the nearer you get to the top of the season the extra the stress appears to ramp up, and every race feels that bit extra necessary.
For the 2 McLaren drivers who’re the clear favourites for the title this season, the summer time break is prone to have been a welcome spell of day off earlier than the resuming hostilities, even when the battle hasn’t been significantly hostile up to now.
Oscar Piastri arrives in Zandvoort with a nine-point benefit over workforce mate Lando Norris, nevertheless it was Norris who gained final day trip in Budapest and likewise delivered a very robust efficiency to dominate final yr’s Dutch Grand Prix, profitable by over 20 seconds as Piastri ended up fourth.
However there was one other clear step ahead from the Australian in his third season in F1, and there may be usually little to decide on between the 2 McLaren drivers when it comes to tempo. Who comes out on high within the first race after the break is prone to be right down to small particulars as soon as once more, and in such a detailed battle you by no means understand how necessary any given weekend might find yourself proving.
A celebration crowd hoping for some magic from Max
Till that dominant win for Norris final season, Zandvoort had been the area of Max Verstappen, who gained the primary three editions of the Dutch Grand Prix because it returned to the calendar in 2021.
Verstappen all the time enjoys enormous help at his dwelling race, with a sea of orange greeting him, together with a raucous environment on the North Coastline.
Whereas these followers could have arrived with a way of expectation in earlier years, this time round it’s prone to be extra in hope, as Verstappen has not completed on the rostrum up to now 4 races this season. With simply two wins to his identify in 2025, he doesn’t arrive because the favorite for as soon as.
But there may be nonetheless motive for Verstappen followers to be optimistic, with a Dash win in Belgium breaking apart that lack of a podium, and the Dutchman proving on a number of events that he can threaten on the entrance if the automobile is to his liking.
It’ll possible want one thing particular in Qualifying to open up the chance, however you may by no means rule the four-time World Champion out.
A reset for Ferrari and Hamilton
2025 has been a difficult yr for Lewis Hamilton up to now, along with his transfer to Ferrari seeing him having to settle into a brand new surroundings for the primary time in 12 years.
There have been apparent highs – together with a Dash victory in China – that trace on the potential of the partnership, and so they gave the impression to be making some good progress forward of the summer time break as he was more and more aggressive in comparison with workforce mate Charles Leclerc.
However these good points didn’t result in agency leads to the 2 races in Belgium and Hungary, and the latter noticed Hamilton significantly downbeat after he dropped out in Q2 and was unable to attain some extent after he and the workforce gambled on a distinct technique in an try and get well.
In some ways, the break might nicely have come on the excellent time, permitting Hamilton – who is usually very exhausting on himself – to realize a little bit of perspective on the efficiency potential he has proven. Nonetheless, after being so pissed off in Budapest, each he and Ferrari might do with a clear race at Zandvoort to begin to construct some constructive momentum once more earlier than an enormous weekend at Monza.
Mercedes drivers awaiting extensions
Apart from the Cadillac driver line-up, the opposite workforce which have had a major give attention to their pairing this yr have been Mercedes.
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are but to obtain affirmation that their contracts might be prolonged – or at the least that affirmation has not but been made public – following a summer time the place discussions with Verstappen additionally made headlines.
Given the constantly excessive degree that Russell has carried out at this yr, and the clear potential Antonelli has proven that he has, it will be a serious shock if there have been any modifications at this level, however till signatures are on contracts then there may be all the time a slight likelihood of one thing surprising occurring.
Russell admitted in Hungary that it wasn’t a very reassuring time having to attend for affirmation of his future, and if there isn’t any announcement previous to the paddock arriving in Zandvoort then it might stay a major speaking level over the weekend.
