formula 1

What time does the Zandvoort qualification start?

Qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix at the Zandvoort circuit starts on Saturday, September 3 at 3:00 pm. Max Verstappen firmly holds the lead in the championship with 284 World Cup points. Teammate Sergio Perez is second at 93 points behind. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is third; his gap to Verstappen has now increased to 98 World Cup points. In the constructors’ championship, Red Bull Racing (475 points) leads Ferrari (357) and Mercedes (316).

Timetable F1 Zandvoort 2022

Date	Session	Dutch time
Friday 2nd September	1st free practice	12.30 – 13.30
Friday, September 2	2nd free practice	16.00 – 17.00
Saturday 3rd September	3rd free practice	12.00 – 13.00
Saturday, September 3	Qualifying	15.00 – 16.00
Sunday, September 4	Race	15.00 – 17.00

What happened at Zandvoort last year?

In 2021, a Formula 1 race was held at Zandvoort for the first time since 1985. It was actually scheduled for 2020, but the global corona pandemic caused a year’s postponement.

Millions of Dutch motorsport fans watched countryman Max Verstappen take pole position on Saturday. In his Red Bull Honda, he was just too fast for Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in their Mercedes. Alfa Romeo driver Kimi Raikkonen had to drop out after the third free practice session following a positive coronatest. Reserve driver Robert Kubica proved a creditable substitute: he qualified 18th and finished the race 15th, just behind teammate Antonio Giovinazzi.

Zandvoort: the race

At the start of the race, Verstappen did not let himself be surprised. Under the watchful eye of tens of thousands of race fans, the Dutchman dived into the Tarzan curve first. Behind him there was some pushing and pulling, with Alpine driver Fernando Alonso winning two spots and Alfa driver Giovinazzi losing three. Teammate Sergio Perez, who had started from the pit lane after an engine change, was advancing. Especially after his first pit stop, he was doing an impressive overtaking race on the medium tires. In the end, he crossed the line in eighth place.

After the first series of pit stops, Verstappen and behind him Hamilton had to close the gap to Bottas, who drove longer. It was crucial for Verstappen to pass the Finn quickly, as Hamilton raced towards the Red Bull. After the second round of pit stops, which forced Hamilton to change to used mediums, Verstappen knew he had victory within reach. At the end of the race, Hamilton still urged on, but the Briton did not get close enough for an overtake.

Thus, Verstappen grabbed back the lead in the driver’s championship. It was already his seventh win of 2021. It was a first in Dutch motorsport history: Verstappen is the first Dutch Formula 1 driver to triumph on home soil.

Zandvoort sets ‘the new standard’

After the race, you didn’t have to have orange glasses on to see how the revamped Zandvoort took a Formula One weekend to the next level. Team bosses, drivers, commentators, everyone praised the renewed Zandvoort. The successful rebuild with steep bowl turns produced many happy faces.

The atmosphere during the race and in the North Holland seaside resort also made an impression. Despite corona, it turned into a great race fest, with Verstappen’s victory the main treat. The race weekend was well prepared; concerns about the poor accessibility of Zandvoort proved unfounded. This was partly due to typical Dutch logistical solutions: thousands of people came to Zandvoort by bike or train.

VIEW ALSO: Max Verstappen races backwards at Zandvoort

What is there to do in Zandvoort 2022?

This year, in addition to the extensive racing program, there is plenty to do on and around the track. Zandvoort turns it into a real beach festival in the village and on the promenade. Among other things, you can race on an E-kart track, view the skyline of the North Holland coast from the highest Ferris wheel in the Netherlands, visit exhibitions of Car Art and take a look at the Zandvoort Museum.

What should you know about Zandvoort?

To get Formula 1 back to Zandvoort, a major renovation of the circuit was needed. For example, in the run-up to 2020, the track has undergone a major rebuilding: a new layer of asphalt has been added and some of the curves have been modified. Then the pit lane, media center and medical facilities were also adapted to the requirements of the Formula One circus. Finally, modern guardrail structures and crash barriers with special foam elements make the track suitable in terms of all safety requirements.

The classic circuit, which also hosted Formula 1 races until 1985, was known as a track where overtaking was difficult. To make the track more suitable for modern Formula 1 cars, two bowl bends were constructed. In both the Hugenholtz corner and the Arie Luyendyk corner, the banking, with a gradient of 15-18 degrees, ensures that the cars keep a lot of grip and thus speed on the asphalt even in the corner.

Two DRS zones make overtaking easier. Next Friday, the FIA is experimenting to extend the second DRS zone. Last year, the DRS zone proved to be just too short to do any nice overtaking during the race. Therefore, this year the possibility of opening the rear wing as early as the Arie Luyendyk corner will be considered. That’s the bowl turn (with a banking of 18 degrees) before the straight past start/finish begins. After the session, the FIA will analyze whether it is safe enough to use this extended DRS zone throughout the weekend.

Rondje Zandvoort then vs. now

What the circuit looks like? Ride along with Alain Prost (Renault, 1983) and Max Verstappen (2021) to see how Zandvoort has changed compared to the old circuit.

Thursday marks the beginning of meteorological autumn. However, the race weekend in Zandvoort promises to be summery. From Friday to Sunday, it will remain mostly dry, semi-overcast and temperatures of about 24 degrees summery.

Before the race begins, the Dutch national anthem sounds. Last year it was singer Davina Michelle who performed the National Anthem; this year it is Floor Jansen’s turn.

Zandvoort in facts and figures:

Official name: Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2022
Location: Zandvoort, Netherlands
Track length:  4.259 km
Number of laps: 72
Number of turns: 14
Total racing distance: 306.587 km
Lap record: 1:11:097 Lewis Hamilton (2021)