The Circuit Zandvoort, located in the town of Zandvoort, west of Amsterdam, is one of the most old school circuits on the Formula 1 calendar1. With a length of just 4.259km, the Dutch GP track is one of the shortest in the sport and it produces a mightily quick lap time, with the record standing at 1:11.097, set by Lewis Hamilton in 20211. The Zandvoort track swoops and flows through the sand dunes, creating a rollercoaster-like feel to the lap1. While the circuit was modernized in time for F1’s most recent return – including increasing the banking angle at the famous Tarzan corner to an Indianapolis Motor Speedway-trumping 18 degrees – Zandvoort remains a proper, challenging drivers’ track1.
In terms of downforce sensitivity, Zandvoort is the third-top track on the F1 calendar, only behind Budapest’s Hungaroring and the Monaco street circuit1. This should play into the hands of teams that have had the best downforce or that can adjust their setup accordingly1.
The circuit features 13 turns and underwent a major transformation ahead of its Formula 1 return. The biggest of those changes being the introduction of two banked corners. The now 4.252 km-track introduced banking to the iconic Hugenholtzbocht corner, while Arie Luyendijkbocht, the last corner of the lap, features banking at 19 degrees, making it twice as steep as the banking seen at Indianapolis2. The firm in charge of redesigning the track, Dromo Circuit Design, said they wanted to emulate Eau Rouge and Raidillon at Spa, and Silverstone’s fast-paced sweep of Maggots and Becketts as the fastest F1 cars to date are sent thundering around a new and improved Zandvoort2.
