Formula 1 drivers are preparing for the chance of rain on all three days of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.
“It’s difficult to say what to predict,” said Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto. “This weekend could be quite crazy with the weather.”
The track dried out on Thursday following earlier rainfall but more is expected. Forecasts indicate the first day of practice on Friday will begin with sunshine but cloud over early on. The overcast conditions are expected to remain until late on Sunday, however the three hours of practice are more likely to be affected by rain than the competitive sessions.
The risk of rain will begin to rise from midday, with first practice due to start at 12:30pm local time. It will increase to around 40% by the time drivers return for the second practice session at 4pm.
The threat of rain will persist throughout Saturday morning, potentially affecting the final hour of practice. No rain is currently forecast during qualifying but the track may still be damp from earlier showers.
The forecast for Sunday is similar, albeit with a higher chance of wet conditions earlier in the day during the F1 Academy and Porsche Supercup support races. The rain is expected to stop before the grand prix begins at 3pm.
Since Zandvoort returned to the F1 calendar four years ago only one Dutch Grand Prix has been held in wet conditions. That occured in 2023, when rain fell halfway through the first lap of the race, which Max Verstappen won.
Last year’s race, won by Lando Norris, was held in sunny conditions with temperatures reaching 31C. However this year the ambient temperature may not break into the twenties over all three days of track action.
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