Formula 1 returns from the summer shutdown this weekend with the Dutch Grand Prix and one of the major storylines to watch this weekend involves Haas. After finishing tenth a season ago they are in a fight for sixth in the Constructors’ Championship with Visa Cash App RB F1 Team, and that fight is certainly one to watch over the final ten races.
In their media preview of the Dutch Grand Prix Team Principal Ayao Komatsu and company outlined the challenges they face this weekend, as well as the special atmosphere that Zandvoort offers.
“Zandvoort is an interesting circuit with a lot of undulation and cambers, and the last corner is pretty interesting,” said Komatsu in the team’s media preview. “Its other characteristics are that it has a mixture of low- to medium-speed corners, it’s a high-downforce circuit and overtaking is pretty difficult. The atmosphere in Zandvoort is very unique, it’s more like a football stadium than a Formula 1 event really, especially before the race on the grid with the music and Orange Army. It’s quite special, and very unusual if you’re only used to Formula 1 events. I enjoy going there as it’s such a unique atmosphere and I’m looking forward to getting back to racing.”
Nico Hülkenberg, who finished just outside the points at Zandvoort a year ago with a P12 finish, has plenty of experience on this tight and twisty circuit.
“Zandvoort is a track I have a lot of history at doing many races over my junior career there; Formula BMW, A1 Grand Prix, F3, some really good memories actually. It’s a very familiar place from back in the day, also because where I’m from it’s very close to the Dutch border, it’s a special feeling and race for me there,” said Hülkenberg. “It’s a great place with a great vibe, the Dutch Orange Army is out in force, and it’s one big party. It’s a short track which is very old school, narrow and short in length. It’s quite tricky to overtake. It’s quite a small track for the big modern Formula 1 cars, but it’s still fun and challenging to get it around.”
For Kevin Magnussen, Zandvoort offers one of the season’s “crazy atmospheres.”
“The Dutch Grand Prix has a crazy atmosphere with the Orange Army, which is about 99 per cent of the fans there. It’s a very cool track for Formula 1 as it’s super old-school and it hasn’t changed much since the seventies,” said Magnussen. “I enjoy racing at Zandvoort as it’s a driver’s track, when you push there, you really are pushing the limits. I’ll be rested and ready to charge for the second half of the season.”
Also in action for Haas this weekend? F1 Academy Chloe Chambers, who captured a victory the last time that Championship was in action.
