Wheel2Wheel Reports Predicts the 2022 Dutch Grand Prix – By Joe Murphy
Like London buses, we wait four weeks for one, and then two turn up at once. Mere days after a storming race in Spa, Formula 1 heads across the border to the Netherlands for Max Verstappen’s second technical homecoming within a week. The orange flares and smoke will be out in full force, but what else can we expect this weekend?
Got to back Max to set the trend…
It’s hard to see beyond a Max Verstappen victory here. Whilst it’s certainly true that anything can, and indeed does, happen in the world of F1, Max Verstappen remains the hot favourite to take maximum points this coming Sunday. He won’t have a penalty to serve and overtaking will be rather more difficult, giving him an even greater chance of the win, should be nail qualifying on Saturday. Perhaps his teammate could run him close, or Charles Leclerc may throw his Ferrari into the mix. However, it’s hard to go for anyone else other than the Dutchman. Especially on current form.
Lando to improve? Surely…
Lando Norris isn’t out of the points for long. After a miserable race stuck behind Albon and Stroll in their respective Williams and Aston Martin’s, this track will hopefully prove more fruitful ground. McLaren are locked in their battle with Alpine, something being made even more personal with everything going on surrounding Oscar Piastri at this moment in time. Whilst Alpine too could be on for a strong showing, back Lando to trump them all and potentially even challenge the top six points positions. You’d have to say he is more likely to than his Australian teammate anyway.
Alex to come crashing back down to (19th) Earth…
The long straights at Spa proved critical in Alex Albon’s successful pursuit of a points finish in Belgium. The fastest car of any at times in Sector 1, the circuit categorically favoured the make up of the Williams car. However, Zandvoort will not bring such joy. Whilst it’s almost a guarantee that Alex will out qualify his under-pressure teammate, asking him to do any more than this will be a stretch. The same, to an extend, can be said for Sebastian Vettel in the Aston Martin. That car out performed all expectations last week, in part due to the penalties of others on the grid. When F1 rolls around to Holland, you can expect Seb and Lance to get a less favourable result when all is said and done.
What about Yuki and Pierre?
It’s been a strange season for everybody down at Alpha Tauri, and this shows no signs of changing. There is little question that the team are down on pace from last season and are one of the outfits to suffer as a result of the regulations changes for this year. Moreover, whereas the case could be made that Yuki Tsunoda has made progress this year in becoming a more well-rounded driver, Pierre Gasly has arguably gone in the other direction. It looks as if the Frenchman could do with a change in scene, in fact. Therefore, is it any surprise that he is the forerunner to replace Fernando Alonso at Alpine for 2023? Not only would he be a good look for the team, he appears to have put any animosity between himself and potential teammate Estaban Ocon, behind him. We’ll have to keep an eye on how that rumour progresses. As far as this weekend goes, expect both Alpha Tauri drivers to be on the cusp on points. In fact, let’s go for Pierre to finish in 10th, whilst Yuki misses out in 11th.
First lap carnage?
To say that the 2021 version of this race was underwhelming, would be an understatement. It didn’t thrill as much as had previously promised to do so, despite the introduction of the banked corner. However, with overtaking opportunities at a premium, drivers such as Leclerc, Sainz or even Russell will not want to let Max run away with the win here. Nor can they afford to. Aside from if there is an uncharacteristic mechanical failure or Verstappen is unlucky with a safety car/pit stop, if he leads after the first turn, he wins the race. Therefore, drivers may be open to risk taking especially those with nothing to lose. Therefore, the chances of an opening lap incident are higher than they may be at future circuits aside from Monza in the following race. For neutrals, it could make for spectacular viewing and a surprise result. So this is something to consider as lights out approaches.
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