Fraser MasefieldMax Verstappen completed the first laps of the revamped Zandvoort circuit in his home country ahead of the return of the historic venue to the F1 calendar in 2020.
Zandvoort last hosted a Formula One Grand Prix back in 1985, when Austria’s Niki Lauda came out on top. But with the circuit receiving a dramatic overhaul to make it back onto the calendar, Verstappen was the only choice to try out the track’s new banking, doing so in Red Bull’s title-winning 2012 RB8.
“It was really cool. The track was already very nice to drive before, but with the changes they made to the track it makes it even more special,” Verstappen told Sky Sports News. “Especially like Turn Three and the last corner with the banking. Especially Turn Three, where the entry is very blind because there is just a big drop and when you’re sitting so low in the car you can’t really see it.
“But that makes it good and for sure a lot of fun when we arrive here for the grand prix.”
The Dutch Grand Prix, which takes place on Sunday May 3, is bound to be one of the most colourful events on the calendar with the travelling hordes of home fans, known as the ‘Orange Army’, out in force to cheer on the man they hope will deny Lewis Hamilton a record-equalling seventh world drivers’ crown.
“We are just pushing as a team to try and make it happen. Of course, I would like to win the title every single year but as a team of course we have to step it up a bit. I’m pretty confident about this year that we can do a really good job.”
More action shots from Max's run at Zandvoort! 📷🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/cYvzEmfi6y
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Craig Scarborough
Motorsport Technology