Dutch Grand Prix: Puddles, Tires, and Team Decisions

Zandvoort is an old-school circuit. A winding, undulating track with an aged feel that was rescued for F1 after a long drought. Today it seems to be bidding us farewell; a fossil that no longer finds a place on the current calendar, but before saying goodbye, it has given us a rather interesting final chapter...

💦💥 Water Trap on the First Lap 🚩

The pre-race rain left puddles in certain parts of the circuit, more evident in banked corners like Turn 3 or the last one, where Max Verstappen precisely suffered a spectacular crash on the first lap that took him out of the race. Gabriel Bortoleto, in the same corner and moment, spun without consequences.

🛞 Strategic Dance and British Victory 🇬🇧

After the Dutchman's accident and the subsequent red flag, the Grand Prix restarted, marked by the different tire strategies dictated by the teams and by retirements due to mechanical failures or accidents. Some opted for 3 stops, most for 2, and a brave Fernando Alonso went for just 1.

In this strategic and tire dance, Lando Norris put on a very commendable fight for first place, with two incredible overtakes in between. After his victory, the question arises: will he be able to climb back to the world championship lead?

📻 The Radio of Discord

Speaking of the championship, its current leader, Kimi Antonelli, was brought in by his team for fresh tires in the last part of the race. This stop placed him behind his teammate and championship rival, George Russell, who received the controversial order to let the Italian pass. A hierarchical decision he obeyed, but one that leaves the question hanging: would more "aggressive" drivers like Verstappen or Alonso have yielded so easily if they were disputing the world championship like the English driver is?

🇪🇸 The Resurgence of Aston Martin-Honda

Finally, we cannot overlook the excellent race by the Asturian driver, who climbed from an initial P18 to a P9, earning him well-deserved points for the second time this season. This excellent result (considering how far back he started) demonstrates the great progress made by Aston Martin and Honda's certain improvement. If the Japanese team steps up their game, it's possible that Fernando Alonso could enjoy a second half of the championship in more noble positions... Time will tell.

Luis Díaz Urbistondo — Founder of Montdebó

Published on 08/23/2026