Dutch Grand Prix 2021: Track guide to an old-school favourite

F1 returns to Zandvoort for the first time in 36 years for the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend.

The sport was initially slated to return last May but the event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Now with a September slot, Zandvoort will hope to thrill, with the home support for Max Verstappen aiming to push their hero ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' championship.

Verstappen said: "It might be a little hard to overtake on but for single-lap performance, I think it’s going to be rewarding. The qualifying laps will be very quick there so any mistakes will be really costly."

Here, GPFans Global gives you the lowdown on the return of an old - but modified - favourite.

The circuit

Despite Zandvoort carrying the tagline of an old-school circuit, described as such by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, the circuit has actually been heavily revamped since the last Dutch GP in 1985.

The old configuration ran around the outside of the current layout with much higher speeds achievable.

The modern-day layout was set out in 1999 and has had yet more refinement ahead of F1's return, including the addition of banking.

Tarzan, or the Dutch Tarzanbocht, is one of the most famous corners in European motorsport and opens the lap. The 180-degree cambered corner is one of the few overtaking spots on the circuit.

A short blast through a left-right sequence at Gerlachbocht leads into the first of the newly-banked turns at Hugenholtzbocht. The left-hander sweeps around to begin the run uphill through the fastest section on track.

Hunserug and Slotemakerbocht send the cars into a high-speed right-hander at the top of the hill at Scheivlak. Two more fast jolts to the right follow, through Masterbocht and turn nine as drivers set themselves up for the most technical section on the circuit.

Lap time will be crucial through turn 10, the medium-speed hairpin that leads onto the back straight and down to the Hans Ernst chicane, the last bonafide overtaking spot of the circuit.

Another short-run follows into the final two corners. Kumhobocht is a 90-degree right taken at medium-speed which leads into the Arie Luyendykbocht, the final corner which has been banked with two-times more camber than can be found at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

What lap times can we expect?

With no previous F1 experience at this circuit layout, the fastest time on race day will bag the track record for Zandvoort.

We can, however, extrapolate from F1 2021 gameplay to find a rough estimate of lap time around the Dutch Circuit.

Aston Martin F1 Esports driver Lucas Blakeley holds the world record for Silverstone on the game with a time of one minute 24.249secs.

Compared to Hamilton's fastest qualifying time from this year's British Grand Prix, a 1:26.134s lap, the game, when set-ups are tuned, provides lap times roughly between one and two seconds faster than in reality.

Blakeley has set a time of 1:08:00 on F1 2021 around Zandvoort, so expect F1 cars to settle into lap times around the 69- to 70-seconds mark, allowing for track conditions.

Who will be fast?

It goes without saying by now that Red Bull and Mercedes will be duelling for honours come Saturday and Sunday, given their collective speed across the calendar so far.

The circuit really gives something to excite both Ferrari and McLaren in the race for third, with the high-speed first sector playing into the British team's hands whereas the technical end to the lap should swing back towards the Scuderia.

In the midfield, expect Alpine and Aston Martin to prosper as they did at Silverstone, which holds similar tyre-killing loads through corners.

Where can we expect to see overtaking?

There are only two realistic opportunities to make a move and both will need a daredevil attitude.

Tarzanbocht and the chicane at Hans Ernst, both aided by DRS blasts, will give opportunity.

It is worth saying we were pessimistic about Mugello last season before the Italian circuit provided a thrilling race.

As to be expected, qualifying will be key this weekend so expect plenty of action on Saturday.

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