Heading to Zandvoort: Ferrari's trial and the issue troubling McLare

In Holland, McLaren seeks to continue its relentless progress, halted only by the summer break, targeting a fifth straight one-two finish. All the necessary elements are set at Zandvoort, on yet another ideal circuit for the MCL39, if not for the challenging weather conditions, especially the winds that can reach 40 km/h. Ferrari, conversely, aims to replicate the outstanding performance demonstrated in Budapest prior to Charles Leclerc’s issue, but for this, it must resolve any uncertainties regarding ongoing challenges with ride height management, even with the new suspension. For this, there is no superior testing ground than the banking at Zandvoort, Max Verstappen’s home track, where the main focus, alongside Red Bull, is to ensure the tires function within the right operational range once more

A racetrack for McLaren

Following Budapest, the Dutch circuit is yet another venue that highlights the strengths of the Woking vehicle. Zandvoort, with an average qualifying lap at 210 km/h, reveals a twisty layout, devoid of long straights and filled with medium-speed turns, which is where the MCL39 demonstrates enhanced aerodynamic downforce against its rivals, supported by the GPS data. The moderate temperatures might restrict the supremacy of the McLarens, recognized for thriving in warm conditions, but that doesn’t alter the pre-race forecast for a fresh showdown at the forefront between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris

There is, nonetheless, one significant element that threatens to impede the Woking team. Powerful winds frequently gust along the North Sea coast, funneled by the dunes encircling the track in various directions, surprising the drivers and unsettling the vehicles. In 2024, the winds were so powerful that they surpassed any evaluation of each car’s sensitivity, emphasizing McLaren’s dominance in absolute downforce. Conversely, this year during the final qualifying session in Budapest, the increasing wind in Q3 led to a more significant decline in performance for the Papaya cars

Analyzing the wind direction in certain areas, we noticed locations where we experienced greater losses than in Q2, and we observed a pattern,” Andrea Stella assessed in Hungary. “We can match it with our aerodynamic maps, and it’s no surprise that in the corners where these wind changes occurred, we suffered the most on the timesheet.” It is yet to be determined if the fierce winds in Zandvoort will enable McLaren to close the gap on rivals, intensifying the contest during a weekend where the papaya colors are likely to shine

The overpass examination

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – AUGUST 01: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Scuderia Ferrari SF-25 on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 01, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty Images)

Ferrari is a competitor for the leading position among its adversaries. Thanks to the recent mechanical and aerodynamic enhancements, Leclerc has found his confidence back with the SF-25 in qualifying, no longer needing the extreme setups that complicated exploring the car’s limits. In addition, the data gathered prior to the summer break verified a rise in downforce at the rear due to the adoption of reduced ride heights facilitated by the new rear suspension, although some uncertainties persist around it.

The reason behind the issue that abruptly reduced Leclerc’s speed by 2 seconds per lap in Hungary is still unknown. Among the numerous theories proposed, there is also the belief that the reduction in speed was due to a change in tire pressures to avoid excessive wear on the plank beneath the floor. Viewed in this light, Zandvoort, featuring its banked corners, will provide essential insights on the performance of the new rear suspension. In reality, during the last 18° banking and Turn 3, where the lateral angle hits a peak of 19°, centrifugal force helps push the car down, causing the plank to wear away. All of this makes the Dutch circuit a benchmark for Ferrari’s true advancement in controlling ride height

Also notable is Lewis Hamilton, who has yet to fully connect with the car, particularly during braking and when entering corners. Zandvoort doesn’t have high-speed areas, where the Englishman finds it most challenging to control the SF-25’s oversteer; however, it is a tight and risky circuit that demands full trust in the vehicle. Lewis wishes that the summer break has been helpful, refreshing his mind to discover a path out of the crisis.

The battle for the podium

Mercedes is working to contest Ferrari for a place on the podium, seeking to replicate its victory in Budapest. In Hungary, George Russell took advantage of Charles Leclerc’s problem, yet the W16 still showcased impressive race speed in his control. The reversion to the previous rear suspension seems to have reinstated confidence in both drivers, particularly Antonelli, enhancing stability during corner entry. The perspective is promising for Zandvoort, a circuit devoid of high-speed segments and abundant in combined traction areas, alleviating the Silver Arrow’s issues while showcasing its advantages

Among those eager to participate in the podium competition is the hometown favorite. Max Verstappen reaches Holland with an RB21 that struggles in medium- and low-speed corners, a shortcoming that nonetheless cannot fully account for the evident pace deficit during qualifying in Hungary. “It appeared to be an issue not connected to the balance,” Mekies assessed. “We weren’t able to put the car in the correct operating range and get the tires functioning.” Red Bull, nonetheless, is confident that Budapest was a one-off event and aims to place the world champion in a position to contend for the top positions in Holland.