In Pictures: The Netherlands 2026
After the mandatory summer break, Formula 1 resumed with a Sprint weekend, with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort also adopting the format.
Located on the shores of the North Sea, the Zandvoort circuit is 4.259 kilometers [2.647 miles] long and features 14 corners. Its most distinctive characteristics are its two banked turns—Turns 3 and 14—whose banking angles are even steeper than those at Indianapolis.
Situated just 40 kilometers [25 miles] from Amsterdam, Zandvoort is particularly demanding on the tires in terms of energy load, owing to its short lap length and numerous corners, some of which are taken at high speed. The two banked turns, with gradients of 19 and 18 degrees respectively, generate extremely high vertical and lateral forces on the tires.
The Dutch Grand Prix has always been held at the Zandvoort circuit. The 2026 event marked its 36th edition, with the first race taking place in 1952. Jim Clark holds the record for the most victories at the circuit, with four wins, while Ferrari is the most successful constructor with eight victories. Local hero Max Verstappen had won three times at Zandvoort, matching the records of Jackie Stewart and Niki Lauda.
There was also a change to the driver lineup, as Isack Hadjar was forced to sit out the weekend while recovering from a wrist injury. He was replaced by Liam Lawson at Red Bull, with Yuki Tsunoda returning to Racing Bulls to take Lawson’s former seat.
FRIDAY
After just one hour of free practice, George Russell secured pole position for the Sprint at the Dutch Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver set the fastest time of 1:11.567, edging Lando Norris by just 0.041 seconds. Behind the McLaren driver, Charles Leclerc posted the third-quickest time, finishing 0.055 seconds behind Russell.
Sprint Qualifying took place with track temperatures of around 30°C [86°F] and ambient temperatures of approximately 22°C [72°F].
SATURDAY
Polesitter George Russell converted his advantage into victory in the Sprint, keeping Charles Leclerc behind him to take the win. The Ferrari driver finished second after overtaking Lando Norris late in the race. Leclerc had opted for a different strategy in the short race, running the Soft compound, which allowed him to make the decisive move on Norris.
Lando Norris was the fastest driver in qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix, stopping the clock at 1:11.163 to take pole position. Behind him, George Russell recorded a 1:11.265, while Antonelli stopped the clock at 1:11.296. Local favorite Max Verstappen could manage only the seventh-fastest time.
SUNDAY
Drama struck at the end of the opening lap. Max Verstappen crashed heavily at the final corner after losing control of his Red Bull on the damp track. A few seconds later, Gabriel Bortoleto spun his Audi but managed to avoid the wall, while Nico Hülkenberg narrowly avoided a collision with his teammate with an impressive reflex. The race was subsequently red-flagged to recover Verstappen’s stranded Red Bull and clear the debris from the track.
After the restart, Kimi Antonelli overtook Lando Norris for the lead and controlled the race for much of the afternoon. Norris, however, stayed within striking distance and eventually reclaimed first place with 18 laps remaining, taking advantage of fresher tires as Antonelli struggled on his older set.
After a dramatic and highly strategic race, Lando Norris took victory in a contest featuring an extraordinary variety of tire strategies and pit-stop sequences. The McLaren driver claimed what will, for now at least, be the final edition of the Dutch Grand Prix, writing his name into the closing chapter of Zandvoort’s Formula 1 history following the circuit’s return to the calendar in 2021.
Kimi Antonelli finished second, extending his championship lead, while his Mercedes teammate George Russell completed the podium after complying with team orders to allow Antonelli past in the closing stages. Lewis Hamilton finished fourth, with Charles Leclerc fifth.
The 2026 Dutch Grand Prix brought the latest chapter of Zandvoort’s Formula 1 story to a close. The circuit, which first hosted a World Championship Grand Prix in 1952 and returned to the calendar in 2021, staged its final scheduled Formula 1 race on August 23, 2026.
Media courtesy of Pirelli S.p.A., Getty Images, DPPI, and the official Formula 1 team press offices. All images are provided via Getty Images through the respective team media platforms and are credited to their rightful copyright holders. Photos not for sale.
