The current home of the Dutch Grand Prix returned to the calendar in 2021 after modifications to the modern Formula 1 machine, but held 34 World Championship events. With the 2025 season reopening at Zandvoort, Haas Driver Esteban Ocon is the 2.646-mile truck guide.
“The first time I raced here was DTM. It was an old configuration. It was basically the same layout, but the banks were the last corner, not the order, so the last corner was much more challenging at the time.
“But when I came here right away, I said, ‘OK, this is a great track!” In DTM it was pretty much flat on Turn 7 and then it didn’t really change.
“It’s an old-fashioned track like we like. And once these new changes made it even better. Usually not. When we put in a new curb, the track loses the character and I’m not the biggest fan of it.
“I think it would have been possible to race here without a bank, but it would probably be even more difficult to pass, and perhaps it wouldn’t have been interesting in the first turn three.
“So you probably didn’t see overtaking in turn 3, or that wasn’t that much, but I don’t think it changed the world. So they raced here in the ’70s and ’80s, so that’s possible.
“We don’t get banking work often. We’re not as serious as we are here. And turn 3 is a very different challenge from the final corner. Especially if you walk, you can’t get to the top. For American fans, like Daytona, they can’t even climb to the top.
“I know it’s less (18 degrees at Zandvoort, 31 at Daytona), but what’s interesting is that you can get so many different lines. I think there’s a way to get into a bank that’s very narrow like a window.
“If you enter too early, you are not positioned the way you should, and the higher you go, the more grip you have.
“In turn, it’s compressing you a lot. There’s a way to feel like you’re going in the right direction when it compresses you. Essentially, that means the grip comes in well and you can turn more when you leave it.
Zandvoort’s banks are promoting many different lines, but Ocon says it poses some interesting technical challenges. Andrew Ferraro/Getty Images
“The final corners are simple flat. If it’s something like a flat surface, you wouldn’t be able to use DRS. It’s flat, not DRS.
“From the perspective setup, I think it’s the same compromise you have anywhere else. In reality, there’s no special setup in terms of camber or anything like that. There’s only one limited corner, so there’s nothing you get from an oval lace.
“Anyway, when it comes to Pirelli regulations, it’s pretty much fixed on the camber anyway. It can’t really surpass what they say. So I wear a little more of the outside of the tire compared to a regular truck, especially the last corner, which doesn’t change the world.
“I like trucks. I really, really enjoy them. I think it’s very difficult in rainy weather – like this weekend – this is great for fans and it’s generally good to be here and have this opportunity like this.
“But it’s not the most fun track in wet. The grip level is very low for some reason. Dry has a higher evolution of the truck, but for some reason, the intermediate tires here aren’t the best.”
At a glance
Race distance: 72 laps/190.5 miles
2024 pole time: 1M09.673S (Lando Norris, McLaren-Mercedes)
2024 Winners: Rand Norris, McLaren Mercedes
Pirelli tire allocation: The compounds that are playing are hard C2, C3 as medium, and C4 as soft. This choice is one softer step than what was brought to the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix.
Drivers will get 2 sets of hard tires (C2, Mark White), 3 sets of medium tires (C3, Mark Yellow), and 8 sets of soft tires (C4, Mark Red), and need access to green intermediate tires and blue full wet.
Heinekenduch Grand Prix Weekend Schedule (All Times et):
Friday, August 29th
6:25am to 7:30am – First practice, ESPN2
9:55am – 11:00am – AM- Second practice, ESPN2
Saturday, August 30th
5:25 AM -6:30 AM – 3rd practice, ESPN2
8:55am – 10:00am – AM-qualifying, ESPN2
Sunday, August 31st
8:55 am – 11:00 am – Dutch Grand Prix (72 laps or 120 minutes), ESPN
