Picture Credit: Formula 1
The 2022 Dutch Grand Prix brings back on the calendar banked corners, an exceedingly tasty venue and moreover, Max Verstappen's homeland. It is only fitting in that sense that Verstappen starts on pole position on a track where he won with ease last year.
Now that the reigning world champion is on pole position, the sixteenth of his career, what can one expect from the 2022 Dutch Grand Prix, which is round fifteen of the year?
SportsTiger brings you the key predictions for Zandvoort.
1. Leclerc will bounce back
Charles Leclerc’s chances of winning this year’s title are about as good as that of Kimi Raikkonen coming back to the top form of motor racing.
But then, as they say, never say never in F1.
Leclerc’s been done in by his own team and on multiple occasions where the last few Grands Prix are concerned. He got a P5 at Spa where he won in 2019. That must have hurt him bad. Real bad.
But at the Dutch GP, Charles will mount a fight back and shall convert a P2 start into a podium finish.
Sainz will fight him hard but may not be able to get the better of the famous Monegasque.
2. Max will be the winner
It’s not impossible but rather implausibly difficult at times to beat Max especially when he’s in great form and of late, he’s been in just that sort of space.
Winner at Spa and winner at the 2021 Dutch GP, Verstappen will once again be the man to beat at the forthcoming contest. With a car that’s contesting with imperious pace, can anyone even stop the Red Bull driver from setting the fastest lap- it’s hard to know and maybe will be equally hard to achieve.
But the Ferrari duo will try their level best. We have a true race to watch out for.
3. Ocon will outscore Alonso
Esteban Ocon started the Belgian GP from the back of the field and yet managed a seventh in the end. In so doing, he raced an impressive Grand Prix where he succeeded not once but twice in overtaking two cars in a single corner.
His battle with Vettel and Gasly towards the latter stages was epic. This time around at Zandvoort, the Frenchman will exhibit true race craft again and even outshine Alonso who starts right behind the other Alpine.
4. Ricciardo will show fight
Lando Norris outscoring Ricciardo this season is nothing new. Such has been the order of the day. However, at Zandvoort, Ricciardo, who found himself knocked out in Q1 and starts seventeenth in the grid will try to up his game and fight it out.
He would, regardless of the pressure, make his way further up the midfield despite starting from the back of the field. And would make it to the P10s or the P11s.
Even then, the Aussie will find it hard to match Norris.