The best Dutch Grand Prix stats you should know as Max Verstappen aims to break two records

Follow us on Google Discover

Formula 1 is heading to the Netherlands for this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, after the long summer break.

After four weeks, the drivers and teams are back refreshed and ready to face the last ten races of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

McLaren look guaranteed to secure both championships by the end of the year, with the Woking-based team able to take the constructors’ title at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on 21 September.

Following a rather quiet summer break, usually dubbed F1’s ‘silly season’ due to driver line-up announcements, many will be anticipating who will take the final six open seats for 2026.

Focus turns to George Russell, who will be looking to retain his position with Mercedes for the next season, after rumours before the summer break that he could be replaced by Max Verstappen.

Ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, Cadillac finally announced its 2026 driver line-up, revealing that Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will help launch the team next year.

One of Formula 1’s oldest races prepares to say goodbye

The Dutch Grand Prix is one of Formula 1’s oldest races despite appearing in only 34 out of the last 75 seasons of the sport.

This year’s running marks the 35th Dutch Grand Prix and is the penultimate race before officially leaving the calendar in 2027. In December last year, it was announced that the track had been struggling to make the event financially viable and was not seeking to renew its contract after 2026.

The Dutch Grand Prix has been held at Circuit Zandvoort on and off since 1952 and had previously dropped off the calendar for 35 years in 1985 due to concerns around noise pollution for local residents.

Four-time world champion Verstappen was not born when the track initially went on its hiatus, but has since led 200 out of the 288 laps at the Dutch Grand Prix in his lifetime.

2023’s Dutch Grand Prix holds the record for the most overtakes in an F1 race, with 186 passes made during mixed weather conditions. The rainy weather resulted in the slowest Formula 1 race in Zandvoort history, with Verstappen taking the chequered flag after 2 hours and 24 minutes.

Zandvoort circuit stats and history

Zandvoort is a unique track, nestled into the dunes along the coast of the Netherlands, and is described as having an ‘old-school feel’ with a number of tight, high-speed corners and dramatic banking.

The circuit is the second shortest on the current Formula 1 calendar, sitting at just 4.2km, and has the second-most laps at 72. Zandvoort is beaten to both records by Monaco, which is 78 laps around the 3.3km street track.

There are 14 mixed-speed corners (10 right and 4 left), including the notorious Tarzan and turns 3 and 14, which really put the full Formula 1 car to the test.

With the number of high-speed corners, Zandvoort offers the highest mass sensitivity on the calendar, meaning that cars will be punished for over-fuelling.

Due to the circuit’s location right next to the sea, the weather is often unpredictable, bringing high-speed winds and rain, which can keep drivers on their toes.

This weekend could see a change in strategy decisions, with the FIA announcing it has increased the pit lane speed limit from 60 km/h to 80km/h in an attempt to reduce pit stop time loss and force alternate tyre strategies.

What have the drivers said about Zandvoort heading into the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix?

Feedback for Zandvoort remains positive from the current Formula 1 drivers, with many looking forward to the old-school track.

Max Verstappen: “As my home race it is always a special race for me; the atmosphere is amazing and we always have such great support. Driving past a sea of orange when you are racing is an incredible feeling and I am looking forward to being back.

“Zandvoort is an old school circuit with quite a unique layout and a lot of fast corners. It will be a tough race, and it looks like the weather might make things tricky, but let’s see what happens.”

Lando Norris: “The atmosphere at the Dutch Grand Prix is always mega. Last year here was special, so I’m hyped to be returning. We’re competitive, and ready to continue where we left off, so I’m confident I’ll be fighting out front again.”

Pierre Gasly: “A circuit I really enjoy. It’s very old-school with tight yet fast corners and the banking makes it unique and quite thrilling. I have special memories of my race there in 2023 which was my first podium with the team, and I’ve gone well at the circuit throughout my career, scoring points last year too. We’re aiming for a promising result this weekend.”

Yuki Tsunoda: “Zandvoort will be a tough weekend for everyone, it always throws up fresh challenges with the weather and this one looks set to be wet again there. That, combined with the wind and location can make things unpredictable on track but we have been working hard to make sure we can combat that and achieve a solid and consistent weekend”

Records that could be broken at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix

Max Verstappen will be looking to set two records this weekend, which could remain unbroken when the Dutch Grand Prix leaves the calendar at the end of next year.

The Dutchman will be hoping to secure his fourth win in front of his home crowds on Sunday, drawing him level for most wins at Zandvoort alongside Jim Clark, who set the record in the 1960s.

If Verstappen can also achieve pole, he will become the first driver to achieve four pole positions at the Dutch Grand Prix, taking the record he currently jointly holds with Rene Arnoux.

The pole position could also see Red Bull overtake Lotus for fifth place in the most pole positions for a single constructor, with their 108th first place start.

With an unpredictable weather forecast, anything could happen and if Ferrari are able to lead the race this weekend they could also set a new record.

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton need to lead the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix for 31 laps to take another record from Lotus, who hold the top spot with 615 laps led.