Welcome to our dwell protection for the dash race for the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, the primary race after F1’s summer season break. Kimi Antonelli has had an incredible first a part of the season, main Lewis Hamilton by 50 factors and George Russell by 59 after the primary 11 rounds. He has taken six wins to Russell’s two, with Hamilton, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc all racking up a win apiece.
His begin to the second a part of the season was not one of the best, nevertheless. A messy dash qualifying session meant he ended down in fifth, greater than 0.2sec behind team-mate Russell, who took a much-needed pole.
A number of the harm was self-inflicted, fairly actually. Within the first session of dash qualifying he ran extensive on the banked flip 12 and into the gravel. The harm to the ground of his automotive was tried to be repaired for the remainder of the session however left him missing downforce. A spot of 0.2sec will not be monumental however the different subject was that three different vehicles – Norris, Leclerc and Piastri – are between him and Russell.
That mentioned, it isn’t an important fear at this level. The factors obtainable within the dash are comparatively small and Antonelli has a wholesome margin at this level over his rivals. In any case, there isn’t any assure that Russell and Antonelli end the place they are going to begin. Antonelli has proven on quite a few events that he can bounce again from a tough session and you must anticipate that once more right here.
The race, which begins at 11am BST, is one-third of the race distance and must be run in dry situations. There have been persistent showers and a gradual breeze at Zandvoort this weekend, however it isn’t anticipated to have an effect on the operating within the dash.
Qualifying for tomorrow’s grand prix comes later as we speak at 3pm, which may very well be a extra consequential session.
