Dutch Grand Prix – Circuit Zandvoort

The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort is unlike anywhere else on the Formula 1 calendar, a narrow, undulating rollercoaster carved into the sand dunes of the North Sea coast. With its mix of steeply banked corners, high speed blind entries and a crowd that feels more like a football stadium than a race track, Zandvoort delivers pure old school drama. It’s a driver’s circuit through and through: thrilling to attack in qualifying, unforgiving in the race, and about as easy to overtake on as a Dutch canal at rush hour.

• Location: Zandvoort, Netherlands

• First Grand Prix: 1952 (returned in 2021 after 36 year absence)

• Track Type: Permanent road circuit (modernised, old school feel)

• Lap Distance: 4.259 km (2.65 miles)

• Race Distance: 72 laps / 306.6 km

• Number of Corners: 14 (10 right, 4 left)

• Direction: Clockwise

• DRS Zones: 2 (pit straight into Tarzan, and between Turns 10–11)

• Top Speed: ~330 km/h (205 mph)

• Key Features: Banked corners (Turn 3 & Turn 14), flowing mid sector, limited overtaking opportunities

• Character: A narrow, undulating rollercoaster where bravery outweighs overtaking. Drivers love it, engineers less so.

Notable corners

• Tarzan Corner (Turn 1): The most famous corner, a wide 180 degree turn providing a challenging braking zone and overtaking opportunities. Legends surround its name, potentially stemming from a local gardener or a road roller used during construction.

• Gerlach Corner (Turn 2): Named after Wim Gerlach, a driver who tragically died during a race at the circuit in 1957.

• Hugenholtz Corner (Turn 3): A challenging banked left-hander named after Hans Hugenholtz, the track's first director.

• Hunserug (Turn 4): Not a corner, but a short straight over a hillock, named after Cas Hunse, a Royal Dutch Motorcycle Association chairman.

• Slotemaker Corner (Turn 6): Named after Rob Slotemaker, a famous Dutch racing driver who died in a crash at this corner in 1979.

• Scheivlak (Turn 7): A fast and demanding right-hander at the top of a dune hill, considered a favorite among drivers.

• Masters Corner (Turn 8): Previously known as Marlboro Corner, according to

• Arie Luyendyk Corner (Turn 14): A banked corner allowing drivers to carry more speed and potentially overtake before reaching Tarzan Corner. 

Evolution of corner names

Some corners have also undergone name changes over time due to sponsorship or other reasons. For instance, what is now Masters Corner (Turn 8) was previously called Marlboro Corner, and Hans Ernst Corner (Turns 11 + 12) was once known as Audi S. The Arie Luyendyk Corner was previously called Bos Uit Corner. 

These distinct corner names and the stories behind them add to the rich history and character of Circuit Zandvoort.

Sector 1: Turns 1–5 (Tarzanbocht to Hugenholtz)

• Turn 1 (Tarzanbocht): A heavy braking zone at the end of the pit straight. Drivers throw their car into Tarzan with the hope of either making the apex or at least scaring the driver alongside. Overtakes are possible here, but they often look like they belong on a highlight reel… or in a steward’s report.

• Turn 2: A quick flick right, really just about positioning for the next corner. Blink and you’ll miss it, but get it wrong and you’re compromised.

• Turn 3 (Hugenholtzbocht): Banked like an old school NASCAR corner, this is where you see creativity. Some drivers cling to the inside kerb, others run the high line like it’s Daytona. The brave make it stick, the cautious lose time. Max Verstappen fans here can almost be heard sucking the air out of the stands every lap.

• Turn 4: A flat out kink where bravery outweighs brains. It sets you up for…

• Turn 5 (Scheivlak): One of the most terrifying corners on the F1 calendar. High speed, blind entry, and gravel waiting like a bouncer outside a nightclub. The car has to be perfectly balanced, too much speed and you’re in the marbles. Drivers talk about this one like veterans remembering war stories.

Sector 1 – Analysis:

The lap kicks off with fireworks. Tarzan (Turn 1) is one of the few genuine overtaking zones on the circuit, with DRS giving drivers a chance to dive down the inside. It’s elbows out stuff here, and more often than not someone ends up with a flat spot or bruised ego. The banked Turn 3, Hugenholtz, is the party piece, drivers can pick a high line or cut in low, making it a tactical minefield. Sector 1 rewards aggression at the start, but overdriving means you’ll pay dearly in Sector 2. The heartbeat of Zandvoort. Scheivlak (Turn 5) is as fearsome as they come, high speed, blind entry, with gravel that looks hungry enough to swallow a Haas whole. It’s a true confidence tester: the brave carry momentum, the cautious lose tenths.

Sector 2: Turns 6–10 (Scheivlak to Mastersbocht)

• Turns 6 & 7: Flowing bends taken in rhythm, the kind you see in sim racing montages. Nail the line and you look smooth; miss it, and you’ll be fighting understeer until Mastersbocht.

• Turn 8 (Mastersbocht): Medium speed right hander. Easy to understeer wide, easy to overdo it on entry. It rewards finesse more than guts, something young rookies tend to learn the hard way.

• Turn 9 & 10 (Hans Ernst Complex): Technical left right sequence. Braking stability and traction matter more than raw speed. Get greedy on the throttle and you’ll be sliding around like a driver auditioning for drifting, not F1.

Sector 2 – Analysis:

The flowing sequence that follows demands balance and rhythm; one mistake ripples through the whole sector. Sector 2 is where qualifying laps are won or lost, if your car sticks here, you’re in business. If not, you’re hanging on for dear life.

Sector 3: Turns 11–14 (Hans Ernst to Arie Luyendykbocht)

• Turns 11 & 12 (Hans Ernst Chicane): Tight and twisty, and often a hotspot for “optimistic” lunges. The kerbs are harsh, treat them badly and they’ll bite back with suspension complaints.

• Turn 13: A small right kink that is more about setup than challenge, leading into the finale.

• Turn 14 (Arie Luyendykbocht): The mighty banked final corner, steep enough to make the Indy 500 blush. Cars are slingshotted out onto the pit straight with DRS open, and it’s here you realise just how much downforce modern F1 cars can hold. This is where laps are made, overtakes are teased, and sometimes drivers come out looking like they’ve just gone through a washing machine.

Sector 3 – Analysis:

The technical section, where patience outweighs bravado. The Hans Ernst complex slows everything down, forcing drivers to be neat, tidy, and disciplined, qualities not always associated with young hotshots. Any scrappy exit here ruins the run into the banked final corner. And what a finale: Arie Luyendykbocht slingshots cars back onto the main straight with DRS wide open, setting up the only consistent overtaking chance. Sector 3 is about precision and exit speed, those who get greedy will watch their lap time dissolve before their very eyes.

Summary

Zandvoort isn’t the easiest place for overtakes, but as a driver’s circuit it’s a gem. Sector 1 rewards boldness, Sector 2 bravery, and Sector 3 discipline. It’s like a rollercoaster squeezed into the dunes, fast, flowing, and unforgiving.

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