Sports

Robbie Von’s F1 Preview – Dutch Grand Prix

Posted on | Posted by Robbie Von

SUMMER BREAK IS OVER… JUST IN TIME FOR THE LAST DANCE AT ZANDVOORT.

It’s about bloody time! F1 summer break feels way too long for my liking. Sure the drivers need a break… but now they’re fresh let’s get back to racing.

This weekend marks a big milestone by the way. It’s the final Dutch Grand Prix. Ever. After 2026, Zandvoort is off the calendar and Portugal takes its place. Let me explain how we got here, because it makes no sense on the surface.

SO WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ZANDVOORT?

Amazingly, F1 didn’t drop Zandvoort. Zandvoort dropped F1. Formula 1 CEO and President Stefano Domenicali confirmed multiple options were on the table for Holland, including alternating years, but the promoter said no to all of them.

The reason will make your head spin. The Dutch Grand Prix is a privately owned business. No government bailout, no state backing. Race director Robert van Overdijk said they had to ‘weigh the opportunity against the risks’, and decided to go out on top, while the event is still adored rather than limp on and watch it fade.

They’re leaving while they’re winning. Five sold out events. 300,000 plus fans a weekend. The event other promoters copied. Walking away because they’d rather be remembered at their peak. Cunning or crazy depending on who you ask, but it’s a decision made from strength.

So it’s surely all about the ‘home-town hero’ this weekend? Max Verstappen has never finished off the podium at Zandvoort. Five appearances, five podiums, three wins. He’s revealed a one-off Delftware inspired helmet with a simple message. “Dankjewel Zandvoort”. Thank you Zandvoort. King Willem-Alexander will present the winner’s trophy. It’s a Sprint weekend for the first and only time here. They’re sending it off properly.

WHERE THE CHAMPIONSHIP STANDS

Antonelli: 219 points. Hamilton: 169. Russell: 160. Leclerc: 138. Norris: 128. Verstappen: 109. Piastri: 92.

Fifty points at the top with 12 races to go. Hungary was fascinating. Norris took McLaren’s first win of 2026 and his first as a world champion. Verstappen second, his best result of the year. Antonelli third from seventh on the grid after a yellow flag penalty, and still extended his lead. That’s champion stuff. Piastri’s luck stayed rotten with contact from Sainz then a gearbox failure.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT ZANDVOORT

Old school, narrow, banked, and brilliant. Turn 3 and the final banked corner are unlike anything else on the calendar. Overtaking is hard, qualifying matters enormously, and the Sprint adds another layer of chaos. Ferrari have an upgraded chassis for Hamilton. McLaren’s significant upgrade package helped drive Norris’ win in Hungary and gave the MCL40 a genuine step forward in performance.

THE TEAMS

Mercedes

Antonelli at $2.70 to win and $1.30 Top 3. Still the man to beat and that Hungary drive from seventh showed exactly why. Russell at $7.50 to win and $2.10 Top 3 is 59 points back and running out of road.

McLaren

Norris at $4.50 to win and $1.45 Top 3 is second favourite and rightly so. He won here in 2024 and arrives with momentum. Piastri at $11.00 to win and $3.25 Top 3 is the one I keep coming back to. He won this race in 2025. The upgrades are landing. His luck has to turn eventually.

Ferrari

Hamilton at $5.50 to win and $1.55 Top 3, Leclerc at $7.50 to win and $2.10 Top 3. An upgraded chassis for Lewis is the wildcard. If it unlocks something, Ferrari become dangerous immediately.

Red Bull

Here’s my play of the weekend. Verstappen Top 3 at $2.40. Five appearances at Zandvoort, five podiums. There is not a driver on the grid who knows this place better. $8.00 to win is tempting if you want the fairytale.

Season Bets

Antonelli is $1.25 for the Drivers Championship which tells you everything. Hamilton at $6.00 is worth a look if Ferrari’s upgrades bite. Mercedes are $1.15 for the Constructors, Ferrari $4.50.

PLAYS FOR THIS WEEKEND

Max Verstappen Top 3 – $2.40. This is my play of the weekend. He knows every inch of this circuit and who doesn’t love a fairytale? The crowd, the helmet, the farewell, the King in attendance. It’s gotta be Max here.

Kimi Antonelli to Win – $2.70

Lando Norris Top 3 – $1.45

Oscar Piastri Top 3 – $3.25 (defending winner, upgrades landing)

Zandvoort has given us one of the best atmospheres in Formula 1. Sprint race, orange smoke everywhere, and a home hero desperate for one last moment on those banked corners. Do yourself a favour and watch this one.

Happy punting!

Odds correct at time of publication. 

Market Market



Recent Articles