With the summer break drawing to a close, here is a look at the schedule for the final Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, which will also mark the start of the second half of the Formula 1 season.
We left off with Lando Norris' dominant victory in Hungary, his first of the season and McLaren's first as well. It was further evidence that the MCL40 has finally come alive following the team's substantial upgrade package, putting McLaren in a position to become a major force in the second half of the campaign.
Kimi Antonelli, however, remains the undisputed championship leader. The Italian headed into the summer break with a commanding 50-point advantage over a resurgent Lewis Hamilton and a remarkable 69-point cushion over his Mercedes teammate, who endured another difficult weekend at the Hungaroring.
The Dutch Grand Prix, which will drop off the Formula 1 calendar from next season, will also mark the return of the Sprint format. Zandvoort will host the fifth and penultimate Sprint weekend of the season, with the sixth and final event scheduled for Singapore in October.
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Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
As for the schedule, the action will begin on Friday at 12:30 local time (11:30 UK time) with the only free practice session of the weekend, followed by Sprint Qualifying at 16:30 (15:30 UK). Saturday's Sprint will get underway at 12:00 (11:00 UK), before qualifying for the Grand Prix at 16:00 (15:00 UK). The final Dutch Grand Prix will then start on Sunday at 15:00 local time, or 14:00 in the UK.
Zandvoort welcomes Sprint return: Full Dutch GP timings
Final Dutch GP could descend into chaos as rain risk looms
Rain could become one of the defining factors of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, with the current forecast pointing to a significant chance of wet conditions across all three days at Zandvoort. On Friday, temperatures are expected to sit at around 20 degrees Celsius, while the probability of precipitation is currently as high as 85%.
The outlook is very similar for Saturday, with temperatures once again forecast to remain around the 20-degree mark and an 85% chance of rain. That means both the Sprint and qualifying for the Grand Prix could potentially be affected by wet conditions.
There is little improvement expected on Sunday. Temperatures are forecast to rise slightly to around 21 degrees Celsius, but the probability of rain remains unchanged at 85%, meaning wet weather could also play a major role in the final Dutch Grand Prix. The last rain-affected Dutch Grand Prix produced plenty of drama. In 2023, rain arrived at the start and contributed to an extremely hectic race.