After each Grand Prix, we present the RaceReport, a unique and engaging digital recap of the race weekend. Reporters Gerard Bos, Noa de Ruijter, and Bas Holtkamp bring you the latest from Zandvoort!
More Than Just a Party
The Dutch GP in Zandvoort is known for its high party factor: rain or shine, people come to enjoy a drink and a dance in all sorts of conditions. Add to that the once again too sparse side program this year, and the only Dutch Formula 1 race quickly becomes known for having more DJs and music than cars and races. And yet… perhaps the narrative about the Dutch Grand Prix is sometimes a bit too negative.
Let’s be honest: when we, as reporters, arrive at the circuit in the early morning, there are already rows of Formula 1 fans lined up at the entrance. All for an autograph from one of their motorsport heroes. Or sometimes, even catching a glimpse of a driver leads to enormous cheers and even tears of joy here and there.
And in the evening? Yes, there are indeed many people who come solely for the party. But they have their place too. And elsewhere, day in and day out, another crowd of F1 fans waits for the drivers departing from the circuit. In short: whether you’re a party animal or a die-hard F1 fan, there’s room for everyone in Zandvoort.
Highlights in the Netherlands
The Quote from Max Verstappen
Max’s Quote
“My mentality for the second half of the season? Just try to make the best of it. At every race, we can see if there are opportunities and we try to learn more about the car. Of course, the car will be very different next year, but I’m still very curious to understand the current car better and see where we can find some extra performance to make things easier for ourselves.”
Top & Flop
Who was at their best and who fell short during the race weekend in the Netherlands? Our top and flop from Zandvoort!
Highlight: Isack Hadjar’s Rapid Rise
Isack Hadjar’s F1 career has been accelerating at a rapid pace in recent months. Initially, the Frenchman from Racing Bulls was met with some skepticism in the paddock, but now, no one doubts his abilities. Hadjar experienced the highlight of his career so far in Zandvoort. During the Dutch GP, he finished third behind Max Verstappen, marking his first podium finish in the premier class. A day earlier, he had also stayed in Verstappen’s slipstream during the qualifiers, finishing fourth while Verstappen was third. This is something Verstappen’s current teammate at Red Bull, Yuki Tsunoda, has not been able to achieve. It’s clear that Hadjar is making a strong case for Tsunoda’s seat. For now, Hadjar is enjoying his current success. “This is my first podium, but certainly not my last,” he said immediately after the finish. His confidence is certainly not lacking…
Disappointment: Kimi Antonelli’s Struggles
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff promised at the start of the season that rookie Kimi Antonelli, the inexperienced successor to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, would be given time and space to make mistakes. This warm approach has been a blessing in disguise for the Italian, as his season has been a series of fits and starts. Although he scored his first (and so far only) podium finish in Canada, this has been overshadowed by numerous crashes and missed opportunities. Antonelli made several mistakes in Zandvoort. On Friday, he got stuck in the gravel, on Saturday he was eliminated in Q2, and on Sunday he clumsily knocked Charles Leclerc‘s Ferrari out of the race. He did manage to finish the race, albeit in sixteenth place. One consolation: his predecessor at Mercedes fared even worse, failing to finish the race at all…
Behind the Scenes
A glimpse behind the scenes at the Zandvoort Grand Prix!
Results of the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix
Please note that the image and its caption, which originally depicted the podium after the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, have been removed as per the instructions.
Other Noteworthy Observations in Zandvoort
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WIN: ONE OF THESE TWO POSTERS!
In collaboration with Automobilist.com, an official partner of Formula 1, we are giving away luxury posters several times this season – true works of art! Enter your details below for a chance to win an F1 poster of the Dutch GP in Zandvoort or of Nico Hülkenberg‘s podium in Silverstone.
Three Questions for… Flavio Briatore
‘I’ve seen enough of Franco Colapinto’
From Colapinto under pressure to Pierre Gasly as a future anchor: Alpine’s top man, Flavio Briatore, speaks candidly about his drivers and the challenges within the team.
How is Franco Colapinto doing? What do you need to see from him to retain his seat?
“I think I’ve seen everything already. I don’t need to see anything more. It’s tough. For this driver, it’s very difficult to handle this car. These cars are very heavy and very fast. And especially for a young driver in Formula 1. Perhaps it wasn’t the right time to bring Franco to F1. I think he needs another year or two to really become part of Formula 1. And I know that, in the end, the result is what matters most. He’s trying his best. He’s working very hard with the engineers to satisfy them in every way, but it’s not what I expect from Colapinto.”
Earlier this season, you made a driver change by bringing in Franco. Will you continue with Franco until the end of the season? Is there a chance Mick Schumacher will return? And how do you view 2026 for your second car?
“We don’t change often. We made a change in the team by bringing in Franco Colapinto. And perhaps for Colapinto, there is too much pressure to perform in Formula 1. Last year, he drove two or three races under James Vowles at Williams, where he did very well. But perhaps, in a team with a strong driver like Pierre Gasly, where you are always in competition with your teammate, we put too much pressure on him. I think we need to take that into account. Sometimes we forget that a driver is also just a human being and we need to understand what goes on in these guys’ heads. These are young guys, 19, 20, 22, 23 years old, and I think it was our mistake to underestimate the human aspect of the driver. As for the future, honestly, I don’t know.”
Pierre Gasly has done excellent work in what has been a very difficult season for your team. Do you think he is the right person to lead the team into the future?
“Yes. Absolutely. Absolutely, yes. He is good. He is consistent. Gasly is a team player. I know him very well. We need a foundation in the team, and Pierre Gasly is that foundation in the team for the future.”
Formula 1 Podcast
The Dutch GP has concluded, and what a spectacle we witnessed in Zandvoort! Three safety cars, a thrilling battle between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen pushing to the limit for his home crowd. Piastri clinched the victory and crucial points in the title race, while Isack Hadjar provided the surprise of the weekend with his first F1 podium. Ferrari had a disastrous weekend, but the event itself was a great success both on and off the track.
Next Grand Prix: Italy
Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Preview of the Classic Formula 1 Race: The Italian Grand Prix 2025
It’s time for a classic on the Formula 1 calendar: the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. This coming weekend, the drivers will race on the lightning-fast ‘Temple of Speed’, navigating the long straights and iconic chicanes, cheered on by the thousands of tifosi who paint the circuit red. Below is the complete schedule for the Italian Grand Prix 2025.
Schedule for the Italian Grand Prix 2025
Friday, September 5
- First free practice: 11:30 – 12:30 UTC
- Second free practice: 15:00 – 16:00 UTC
Saturday, September 6
- Third free practice: 10:30 – 11:30 UTC
- Qualification: 14:00 – 15:00 UTC
Sunday, September 7
- Race: 13:00 UTC
