Formula 1 returns from its traditional European summer break this weekend as the championship heads to Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix.
Measuring 4.259km, Circuit Zandvoort is one of the shortest and most distinctive venues on the calendar, with its narrow layout, sweeping corners and elevation changes creating an old-school challenge through the dunes of the North Sea coast.
Its 14-turn layout is renowned for its banking, while limited overtaking opportunities place added importance on qualifying and track position.
That challenge will be intensified by the sprint format, which features at the Dutch Grand Prix for the first time and leaves teams with just one practice session before competitive action begins.
This weekend marks the 36th running of the Dutch Grand Prix as a world championship event and the last for the foreseeable future, with Zandvoort’s contract expiring at the end of 2026.
The race returned in 2021 after a 36-year absence and quickly developed into one of F1’s most popular events, driven largely by the enormous home support for Max Verstappen.
Verstappen won the first three races following its return, before McLaren broke his streak with Lando Norris in 2024 and Oscar Piastri last season.
Piastri’s victory 12 months ago remains his most recent in Formula 1, with his 2025 title challenge fading across the closing stages after leaving Zandvoort with an increased championship advantage.
The Australian has endured a winless opening half to 2026, but showed strong pace in Hungary before retiring late as teammate Norris claimed McLaren’s first victory of the season.
A return to the scene of his last win therefore offers Piastri another opportunity to break that drought and build on McLaren’s encouraging form.
Kimi Antonelli meanwhile resumes his championship charge with a 50-point advantage over Lewis Hamilton, while Mercedes teammate George Russell sits a further nine points behind in third.
Antonelli has won six races this season but returns to a venue where Mercedes has not tasted victory since Juan Manuel Fangio triumphed in 1955.
Zandvoort also produced a difficult weekend for the Italian as a rookie last year, when a collision with Charles Leclerc and two penalties left him classified 16th.
Russell will likewise be looking for a response after a difficult end to the opening half of the campaign.
Victory in Austria and two second places at Barcelona and Silverstone had appeared to revive his title challenge, only for an opening-lap retirement in Belgium and seventh place in Hungary to leave him 59 points behind Antonelli.
The Briton had reason to celebrate during the summer break after becoming engaged and will hope to return with his championship bid back on track.
Hadjar also returns to the scene of his maiden F1 podium, having finished third for Racing Bulls behind Piastri and Verstappen 12 months ago.
The Frenchman is still chasing his first podium since joining Red Bull this season, while Verstappen carries the hopes of the home crowd after finishing second to Norris in Hungary.
Red Bull has finished inside the top two at every Dutch Grand Prix since Zandvoort returned, giving the team reason for optimism at the circuit.
Ferrari will also look to regain momentum after winning two of the past five races through Hamilton in Barcelona and Leclerc at Silverstone.
The Scuderia has not won in the Netherlands since Rene Arnoux led teammate Patrick Tambay home in a Ferrari one-two in 1983.
With extra Sprint points available, the championship battle resuming and Zandvoort preparing for its final Formula 1 appearance for the foreseeable future, there will be plenty at stake when the second half of the season gets underway.
When is the Dutch Grand Prix?
The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort takes place on August 21-23 (AEST).
What time does the Dutch Grand Prix start?
The Dutch Grand Prix will start at 11pm AEST on Sunday, August 23. Scroll down for more time zones.
Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix schedule
Friday, 21 August
Session
Duration
Local
AEST
ACST
AWST
NZST
FORMULA 1
FIRST PRACTICE SESSION
60 minutes
12:30
20:30
20:00
18:30
22:30
F1 Academy
Practice Session
40 minutes
14:00
22:00
21:30
20:00
0:00
FORMULA 1
SPRINT QUALIFYING
44 minutes
16:30
0:30
0:00
22:30
2:30
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup
Practice Session
45 minutes
18:00
2:00
1:30
0:00
4:00
Satuday, 22 August
F1 Academy
Qualifying Session
30 minutes
9:20
17:20
16:50
15:20
19:20
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup
Qualifying Session
30 minutes
10:15
18:15
17:45
16:15
20:15
FORMULA 1
SPRINT (24 Laps or 60 Mins)
60 minutes
12:00
20:00
19:30
18:00
22:00
F1 Academy
Reverse Grid Race (17 Laps, Max 30 Mins +1 Lap)
30 minutes
14:35
22:35
22:05
20:35
0:35
FORMULA 1
QUALIFYING SESSION
60 minutes
16:00
0:00
23:30
22:00
2:00
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup
First Race (17 Laps, Max 30 Mins +1 Lap)
30 minutes
18:00
2:00
1:30
0:00
4:00
Sunday, 23 August
F1 Academy
Feature Race (17 Laps, Max 30 Mins +1 Lap)
30 minutes
10:30
18:30
18:00
16:30
20:30
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup
Second Race (17 Laps or 30 Mins +1 Lap)
30 minutes
11:45
19:45
19:15
17:45
21:45
FORMULA 1
GRAND PRIX (72 LAPS OR 120 MINS)
120 minutes
15:00
23:00
22:30
21:00
1:00
What is the weather for the Dutch Grand Prix?
A cool and changeable weekend is expected at Zandvoort, with temperatures reaching around 20 degrees celsius on Friday and Saturday before edging slightly higher on Sunday, with a chance of showers across all three days.
How to watch the Dutch Grand Prix in Australia
The Dutch Grand Prix will be live on Fox Sports 506. There is no live free-to-air coverage or post-race free-to-air highlights of the event in Australia.
Can I live stream the Dutch Grand Prix in Australia?
The Dutch Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Foxtel’s subscription streaming services Foxtel Go and Kayo Sports.
How to watch F1 TV commentary feed
The alternative F1 TV commentary feed is available to Foxtel customers with a set top box. Kayo Sports subscribers can only watch the F1 TV feed during Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Dutch Grand Prix Fox Sports broadcast times (AEST)
Friday, August 21
Practice 1: 8:00pm-10:00pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Saturday, August 22
Sprint qualifying: 12:00am-2:00am AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Sprint race: 7:00pm-9:30pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Qualifying: 11:55pm-1:05am AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Sunday, August 23
Build-up: 9:30pm-10:55pm AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Race: 10:55pm-1:00am AEST
Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
How to watch the Dutch Grand Prix in New Zealand
Sky Sport will broadcast the Dutch Grand Prix, with Sky Sport 3 carrying the action for FP1 and both sprint sessions, Sky Sport 2 showing qualifying while Sky Sport 1 will show the race.
Can I live stream the Dutch Grand Prix in New Zealand?
The Dutch Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sport’s subscription streaming service Sky Go or Sky Sport Now.
Dutch Grand Prix Sky Sports broadcast times (NZST)
Friday, August 21
Practice 1: 10:00pm-11:55pm NZST
Sky Sport 3, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Saturday, August 22
Sprint qualifying: 2:00am-4:00am NZST
Sky Sport 3, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Sprint race: 9:00pm-11:30pm NZST
Sky Sport 3, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Sunday, August 23
Qualifying: 1:15am-4:00am NZST
Sky Sport 2, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Build-up: 11:30pm-12:55am NZST
Sky Sport 1, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Monday, August 24
Race: 12:55am-3:00am NZST
Sky Sport 1, Sky Sport Now, SkyGo
Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship (After Hungarian GP)
Pos
Num
Driver
Team
Wins
Poles
Points
Diff
Gap
1
12
Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes
6
6
219
2
44
Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari
2
4
169
50
50
3
63
George Russell
Mercedes
1
0
160
59
9
4
16
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
1
0
138
81
22
5
1
Lando Norris
McLaren
1
1
128
91
10
6
3
Max Verstappen
Red Bull
0
0
109
110
19
7
81
Oscar Piastri
McLaren
0
0
92
77
17
8
6
Isack Hadjar
Red Bull
0
0
68
151
24
9
30
Liam Lawson
Racing Bulls
0
0
43
176
25
10
10
Pierre Gasly
Alpine
0
0
42
177
1
11
6
Arvid Lindblad
Racing Bulls
0
0
23
196
19
12
43
Franco Colapinto
Alpine
0
0
19
200
4
13
87
Oliver Bearman
Haas
0
0
18
201
1
14
5
Gabriel Bortoleto
Audi
0
0
10
209
8
15
55
Carlos Sainz
Williams
0
0
6
213
4
16
23
Alexander Albon
Williams
0
0
5
214
1
17
31
Esteban Ocon
Haas
0
0
3
216
2
18
27
Nico Hulkenberg
Audi
0
0
2
217
1
19
14
Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin
0
0
1
218
1
20
18
Lance Stroll
Aston Martin
0
0
0
219
1
20
77
Valtteri Bottas
Cadillac
0
0
0
219
0
20
11
Sergio Perez
Cadillac
0
0
0
219
0