👀 Rising Stars Eyeing F1 Seats

Hey there, F1 Fanatic! 👋

First up this week we've got five rising stars eyeing F1 seats for 2024.

On the frontlines, Alpine is aiming for that elusive fourth place in the constructors' championship. They're shooting for the stars, but let's hope their rocket doesn't run out of fuel.

Last but not least, we're zooming in on Zandvoort. A circuit that's full of history and heart-pounding action. Scroll down to see what to expect from this legendary track.

Before we dive into the action, check out what the F1 drivers have been doing this summer break. From Ibiza to Mykonos and Moto GP races, they had a blast. 🏝️

🤨 Alpine still eyes P4 despite shake-up

Alpine's technical director is not letting the doubters get to him. Despite a rocky start to the season, he's still gunning for that fourth-place finish and doesn't see any reason why they can't achieve it.

Initially, Alpine's P4 goal seemed quite realistic. They pulled it off last year, so why not again? But with a series of unexpected changes, including losing some key team members, the P4 dream started to look a bit dreamy.

Speaking at the launch of their A523 in London, then-team principal Otmar Szafnauer was all about claiming that P4 spot. But now he and Alan Permane are out, and Pat Fry is joining Williams. Matt Harman, the technical director, is one of the last ones standing from the original team.

At the moment, Alpine is 134 points away from P4 and without a team principal. - Read more

⭐ 5 Rising stars eyeing F1 seats

Alex Palou

An IndyCar champ, has the skill and momentum to snag an F1 seat. After some confusion surrounding his contract, Palou is a free agent and can be snatched up by teams like Haas or AlphaTauri.

Liam Lawson

A 21-year-old speedster has impressed in the Japanese Super Formula and F2. Currently a reserve driver for both Red Bull and AlphaTauri, Lawson could be the one to replace Ricciardo at AlphaTauri if they opt for a younger driver.

Theo Pourchaire

A 19-year-old leading the F2 championship is a rising star in the Sauber Driver Academy. Alfa Romeo might be in a fix about whether to sign Zhou or seize the opportunity to secure Pourchaire.

Antonio Giovinazzi

A seasoned driver is ready for an F1 comeback after his Le Mans victory with Ferrari. Though a Scuderia seat seems unlikely, Giovinazzi could be a strong contender for a Haas seat, especially if it means keeping their engine supplier (Ferrari) content.

Mick Schumacher

After a tough stint with Haas, Mick is now Mercedes' reserve driver. With Williams as a potential destination, Schumacher could follow in the footsteps of fellow Mercedes junior drivers like Ocon and Russell and revive his F1 career.

👹 Horner fears 'Frankenstein' F1 regulations

Mercedes' Chief Technical Officer, Mike Elliot, is urging F1 teams and the FIA to work together to make sure the new rules set for 2026 are really going to work well.

They're introducing new power units and making some big changes, like increasing electrification and using sustainable fuels, and they're even taking out the Motor Generated Unit Heat (MGU-H) from the unit.

But there are still some concerns about the new chassis and aerodynamic regulations. Red Bull's Team Principal, Christian Horner, is worried that we could end up with a weird mix of elements that he's calling a "Frankenstein" formula.

The FIA wants to make the cars smaller and lighter. Now, a car has to weigh at least 798kg, which is 107kg more than the cars weighed back in 2014 when the turbo-hybrid era started. - Read more

Looking to understand the buzz around Zandvoort Circuit? You're in the right spot!

Zandvoort is more than just a circuit; it's a symbol of F1's rich history and its adaptive future. With its challenging layout, enthusiastic fans, and a setting that's both beautiful and historically significant, it's no wonder the F1 community has embraced its return with open arms.

Let's break down this iconic track and see what all the fuss is about.

A brief history of Zandvoort

Since the late 1940s, Zandvoort has been the heart of the Dutch racing scene and the go-to spot for four-wheeled racing. This seaside resort town has gained international fame for its racing circuit.

From 1952 to 1985, Zandvoort was the proud home of the Dutch Formula One Grand Prix. But things took a downturn after that.

The circuit got shortened and saw a decline in popularity. But it wasn't all bad - the Masters Formula 3 race found a home here, and it became a hub for nurturing young talent.

By 1999, the circuit was partially restored to its former glory and started hosting high-profile series like DTM, WTCC, and the Blancpain GT Series.

Then came Max Verstappen. His stunning rise to fame put the Dutch round back on the map. Zandvoort got a much-needed upgrade to meet FIA Grade 1 standards.

The coronavirus delayed things a bit, but when the Grand Prix returned in 2021, the circuit was jam-packed with fans cheering for Verstappen, who went on to win and eventually clinch the world title.

Track layout changes

Zandvoort has had more facelifts than a Hollywood star. The track was built on existing roads laid out by the German Army during World War 2.

The initial Zandvoort track was 2.6 miles (4.2km) long and had 12 corners.

From 1948 to 1989, the track remained pretty consistent. The only changes were tweaks to turns 8 and 11, transforming them into distinct chicanes.

But in the late 1980s when the track had a bit of an identity crisis. Local residents, especially those near the southern part of the track (turns 8 to 12), started complaining about the noise.

In an effort to keep the peace, the circuit owners decided to give the track a little nip and tuck.

They chopped off the southern section and introduced a shorter circuit in 1990. It was a short 1.6 miles (2.5km) with just eight corners.

By the end of the 1990s, the Dutch government wanted the full Grand Prix track back. So, the track got another makeover – this time bringing back the curves and extending the circuit to include all the original sections.

This layout, introduced in 2001, has stuck around ever since.

Changes for F1

Formula 1 roared back in 2021, and the paddock was practically bursting at the seams with team trucks and support vehicles. So, the Zandvoort track had to shove Turn 3, 16 meters further away from the inside of the track.

However, this would have shortened the approach to the high-speed Turns 4, 5, and 6 - a signature section of the original track. With less distance to build speed, this section would be less exciting.

To make up for this, the circuit's management and designers decided to build a steeply banked Turn 3. The banking at Zandvoort's Turn 3 is quite dramatic, with a 35% gradient, or 18 degrees, and a vertical height difference of 4.5 meters from the inside to the outside.

This is now one of the most iconic corners worldwide and has made Zandvoort a standout circuit on the F1 calendar.

The return of F1 brought a desire for a longer main straight to boost overtaking, excitement, and ticket prices for the Dutch GP.

However, the circuit is surrounded by sand dunes and a holiday village, making it impossible to extend the main straight.

The solution was to give the final corner, Turn 14, another steep bank. This allows cars to enter the start/finish straight much faster, but it does require extra bravery from the drivers.

Here is how the track looks today with all corners.

Overtaking is limited

 
The Zandvoort circuit is twisty, which makes overtaking a real challenge. With its fast corners and narrow track, drivers really have to be on their game to pull off a successful pass. So where are the best spots to overtake?

1️⃣ Tarzanbocht - T1

This corner is at the end of a straight where drivers can use DRS. Right before the sharp 180-degree Tarzan corner, everyone slams on the brakes, and that's when you can see who's the best at braking!

2️⃣ Hugenholtbocht - T3

This fast, banked corner is at the end of the second straight. Here, drivers have to pull out all their skills to avoid losing places in this left-hand bend.

3️⃣ Arie Luyendykbocht - T14

In 2022, they changed the DRS zone in the Arie Luyendyk corner so drivers can open their wings right after turn 13. This gives them more chances to overtake on the straight and in the Tarzan corner.

The Crowd: Orange Everywhere!

If you've seen a race at Zandvoort since its return, you'd have noticed an ocean of orange in the stands. Thanks to the Dutch superstar Max Verstappen, F1 fandom in the Netherlands has skyrocketed.

And if you wondered why orange - it’s simple. The Dutch royal family, known as the House of Orange-Nassau, has always been associated with the color orange. So, for centuries, orange has been seen as the national color of the Netherlands.

The Dutch GP already feels like a classic to the current CEO, Stefano Domenicali. He considers it the ‘fresh air’ of the F1 future.

🥇 Could F1 be part of the Olympics? Motorsport is considered a new addition to the 2028 Olympic Games, which will be held in Los Angeles. - Read more

🏆 Max Verstappen will get a new trophy for his Hungarian Grand Prix win by the end of September. Lando Norris accidentally broke the original during the podium festivities. - Read more

💸 Silverstone Circuit is coughing up over £1000 in parking fines following parking chaos at the British GP. - Read more

🚬 Dutch health groups are upset about McLaren F1's Velo branding at the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix. They've filed a complaint because it promotes nicotine pouches. - Read more 

💰 Felipe Massa's lawyers have filed a lawsuit against F1 and the FIA, claiming a 'conspiracy' robbed him of the 2008 Drivers' Championship, according to Reuters. - Read more

🏎 1996 world champion Damon Hill has a suggestion: make teams use all three dry tire compounds during races. He thinks it could stop the one-stop races we're used to seeing. - Read more

💡 Sky F1 commentator David Croft has an idea: let's make the Sprint format its own separate championship. - Read more

🏄 F1 journalist Tom Clarkson thinks the summer break happened at a bad time for Red Bull. - Read more

👬 McLaren boss Zak Brown thinks this Formula One season would be an instant classic if Red Bull had two drivers like Sergio Perez instead of just one Max Verstappen. - Read more

🇳🇱 Scheduled 25-27 August

Circuit Zandvoort

1️⃣ Circuit length: 4.259 km
2️⃣ Number of laps: 72
3️⃣ Lap record: 1:11.097 Lewis Hamilton (2021)
4️⃣ Corners & DRS: 14 corners with 2 DRS zones