Zandvoort – Pitlane limit increased to 80km/h
Posted on August 27, 2025
The Scene of Daniel’s decline
ZANDVOORT IS DESTINED TO BE DROPPED from the F1 calendar beyond 2026, with organisers not renewing their contract beyond that point, despite the race’s popularity and the electric atmosphere created by Max Verstappen’s home crowd.
The reality is Zandvoort is one of the few F1 venues that operates without government subsidies.
Despite its popularity and high standards, the Dutch Grand Prix has become increasingly difficult to sustain. Being privately owned, organizers felt it was wiser to exit while the event is still beloved, rather than stretch resources thin.
Formula 1 Management head honcho Stefano Domenicali has heaped praised on Zandvoort’s management for setting a “new benchmark” in race organization and sustainability.
Zandvoort’s director, Robert van Overdijk, emphasized that the decision was deliberate and final. Despite talks of alternating with Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps, the Dutch team opted for a clean exit.
However, adding spice to this week’s 2025 Dutch Grand Prix is the decision of the FIA, the sport’s all powerful governing body, to increase the Pit Lane limit from 60 to 80km/h. It follows a recommendation from Pirelli for whom Zandvoort marks their 500th Grand Prix!
At Home in the West
I have thoroughly enjoyed taking time off during the past month, spending quality time with my son Sebastian and grandson Luca (pictured here), who turns two next month.
Just to set the scene Perth, and Ocean Reef where I am based, has experienced an abnormally wet winter with exceptionally strong winds, interspersed with occasional warm sunny days. And this week, our coldest daytime temperature in 50 years – max of 11.4C.
By contrast, northern parts of our vast state of Western Australia sweltered under a sizzling 38C+ sun!
And I’m sitting here in OR writing this, on Wednesday afternoon, with glorious sunshine beaming though the window. Go figure!
However, with a very welcome Spring just around the corner here in Australia, we return now to Europe and the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, that charming coastal town (pictured below) in the Netherlands, nestled alongside the North Sea.
Circuit Zandvoort
It’s best known for its long sandy beach, scenic dunes, and of course the Circuit Zandvoort, where much of the Dutch population is currently heading. After all, it’s only a 30-minute train ride from Amsterdam!
https://adrianchambersmotorsports.com.au/what-did-wreck-daniels-career/
But it will long be remembered for its extraordinary-banked corners, one of which was the scene which contributed to Aussie Daniel Ricciardo’s eventual demise.
Daniel will never forget that eventful day in the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, a pivotal moment in what became his final chapter in Formula 1.
During Free Practice 2 at the 2023 Dutch race, Daniel collided with the barriers at Turn 3 – an awkward banking the bane of many drivers – trying to avoid countryman Oscar, sitting helpless in his stricken McLaren.
Daniel ended up hitting the wall himself. The impact broke his metacarpal (a bone in the hand), sidelining him for five races.
His selfless split-second decision saved Oscar’s career, and possibly his life!
Zandvoort Pit Lane now 80km/h
The FIA has confirmed a mandatory change for all teams at this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix as the sport resumes its hectic 24-race calendar.
And ahead of the season’s 15th round, F1′ s governing body have confirmed alongside tyre supplier Pirelli that a different set of compounds than those allocated at last year’s Dutch GP will be used this weekend.
For the race in the Netherlands, Pirelli has gone a step softer in terms of compounds than last year. The teams will have a choice of the C2 as Hard, the C3 as Medium and the C4 as Soft, whereas in 2024 the available compounds were C1, C2 and C3.
According to simulations provided by the teams, the one-stop is still quickest, partly because overtaking is notoriously difficult at Zandvoort, with very few straights apart from the main one, combined with the fact the whole track is quite narrow.
A further step in this direction stems from the FIA’s decision to increase the pit lane speed limit from 60 to 80 km/h, thus reducing the time taken for a pit stop.
And that’s something to up the heart rate of those hardy souls in the Pit Crews, as a 920kgs beast comes hurtling down Pit Lane at 80km/h, stopping on a set mark!
Additionally, every car and all slick tyres this weekend will carry a special 500 GP logo to commemorate Pirelli’s F1 milestone.
It’s Official
It’s official – Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are now F1 Cadillac’s drivers for Season 2026!
Valtteri: “This isn’t just a racing project; it’s a long-term vision. It’s not every day that you get a chance to be part of something being built from the ground up and helping shape it into something that truly belongs on the F1 grid.
“I’ve had the honour of working with some of the best teams in the world, and I can already see the same professionalism and hunger here. This is an iconic brand with a big legacy in American motorsport, and to be a part of the story as it enters the world stage of F1 is incredibly special for me.
“I’m looking forward to representing the American spirit of racing on the greatest circuits in the world. I’d also like to thank Mercedes for their unwavering support and sportsmanship in facilitating such an exciting step.”
And, It’s Also Official!
Christian Horner is NOT joining Cadillac! Anytime soon.
Back to the future
Meanwhile Laurent Mekies (above), Red Bull’s new team boss since Christian’s removal, has admitted the RB21 raced by Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda will receive only “minimal” upgrades for the balance of the season.
Red Bull sits fourth in the Constructors’ Championships as the field lines up this weekend on the Zandvoort grid – some 40 points adrift of third-placed Mercedes.
Of its 194 points scored in the first half of the F1 season, Max has scored 187 despite this year’s car being a difficult beast to tame, even though the Dutch ace has claimed two race wins,
But Laurent suggests it’s unlikely to get much better before the season is out, admitting:
“Even if car development is going to heavily slow down or is pretty much going to be minimal from now on, we still have a lot of things we can learn.”
Which is hardly going to make life any easier for the Dutchman and his Japanese sidekick!
Now here’s a Shot in the Dark!
NOAH BAGLIN is a 13-year-old British karting prodigy who Ferrari is lining up to follow to follow in the hallowed footsteps of seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.
The young gun, who drives for the Prema karting team – set up to run F1 juniors – joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in March, after a stellar performance since he embarked on his chosen sport in 2019.
Since then, he’s scooped titles throughout Europe including the MSA Le Conti Cup and the prestigious British Open ‘O Plate’.
Noah was the sport’s highest place rookie last year, becoming numero uno in FIA Karting ranking, with Ferrari signing him to their junior programme.
Fellow Brit and current Alpine F1 driver Ollie Bearman also rose from the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Pirelli – Exclusive tyre supplier to F1
Pirelli has been supplying tyres to Formula One since 2011, tasked with producing tyres that not only perform but also degrade strategically to spice up racing – sometimes controversially so.
A few years ago, I was a guest of Pirelli at the Australian F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne. It was pleasurable experience and a real eye-opener.
The company’s current contract as exclusive tyre supplier runs from 2025 through 2027, with an option to extend to 2028.
Pirelli is headquartered in Milan, Italy, specifically in the Bicocca district – a historic area that’s been transformed into a hub of innovation and design.
Their HQ design is referred to as “a fusion of industrial heritage and modern architecture”. The site includes the Bicocca degli Arcimboldi, a 15th-century aristocratic villa.
Forbidden Gases
Here are some salient facts about the giant Italian tyre manufacturer that might interest you.
Before each F1 weekend, Pirelli inflates the tyres with compressed air, using a special machine to remove moisture.
Then, in the fitting area where all Pirelli tyres for the event are fitted to and stripped from the wheel rims supplied by the teams, special machines pump them up to 60 psi to check that they are correctly seated on the rims.
The pressure is then reduced to 45 psi before the tyres are collected by the teams. They can choose whether to keep the dried compressed air or to replace it with nitrogen, an inert, non-flammable gas that is less permeable than oxygen.
The use of any other gas or mixture of gases is forbidden in the regulations.
At each event, Pirelli states a mandatory minimum pressure to be set initially, as well as target running pressures that must be met for safety reasons.
At the end of each session, the regulations allow for the minimum pressure to be adjusted to a new mandatory pressure for the following session.
The Compounds for Zandvoort
For the race in the Netherlands, Pirelli has gone a step softer in terms of compounds than last year.
The teams have a choice of the C2 as Hard, the C3 as Medium and the C4 as Soft, whereas in 2024 the available compounds were C1, C2 and C3.
The decision, taken in conjunction with the FIA and the championship promoter, aims to increase the likelihood of a strategy based on two stops, rather than just the one-stop, which has been the predominant choice since this race returned to the calendar in 2022.
What is Energy Density?
Pirelli defines energy density as the amount of energy contained or stored in a volume or mass of a substance.
Applied to F1 tyres, the concept refers to the energy absorbed, accumulated and dissipated by the tyre when it is run on track.
So, it is essential to manage energy density to keep tyre temperatures within the optimal operating window to maximise performance.
Poor energy density management, for example in the case of incorrect car balance, can be a contributing factor to issues such as graining or blistering.
While there are many tracks harder on tyres, Zandvoort is the one where energy density is highest, due to its relatively short length, the high number of corners, combined with the lack of straights where tyres could be rested and cool down.
Clock winding down for Zandvoort
This weekend’s race is the 35th Dutch Grand Prix to count towards the FIA F1 World Championship. Since the first edition in 1952, all have been run at Zandvoort.
Jim Clark is the driver with the most wins here, on four, all in a Lotus. Behind him are three other world champions, with three victories apiece: Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda and Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman leads the way when it comes to pole positions with three, joint equal with René Arnoux.
And Lando Norris won at Zandvoort last year, from Max, Charles Leclerc with Oscar Piastri fourth.
RACE SCHEDULE
Perth WA Times
DUTCH GRAND PRIX
Circuit Zandvoort | 29 – 31 Aug
P1 Friday 29th August 18:30
P2 Friday 29th August 22:00
P3 Saturday 30th August 17:30
Qualifying
Saturday 30th August 21:00
RACE
Sunday 31st August 21:00
NEXT EVENT
ITALIAN GRAND PRIX
Autodromo Nazionale Monza | 05 – 07 September
EDITED by AC
Leave a Reply