2024 Dutch Grand Prix preview: timings, how to watch, and more

Hot topics ahead of the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix

Ahead of his home grand prix, Max Verstappen finds himself in a peculiar scenario where, although he has a 78-point lead in the championship, he has uncharacteristically failed to win a race since the Spanish Grand Prix back in June. In fact, he’s only been on the podium once since then, a second-place finish at Silverstone, and over the course of those past four races we have seen the pressure build with collisions and team radio outbursts. Zandvoort should provide the perfect setting for a reset, a race he has won consecutively for three years, he will be looking to make it four in a row with the passionate support of the Dutch fans behind him.

One of the causes for the mounting pressure at Red Bull has been the challenge from McLaren concerning the constructors’ championship. The Woking outfit trails the defending champions by only 42 points thanks to the consistent run of podium finishes from both drivers, including Piastri’s win in Hungary. The same cannot be said for Red Bull, which has been unable to rely on Sergio Pérez to bring in a regular haul of points. If things continue as they are, then McLaren may be in with a real chance of ending its 25-year-plus constructors’ title drought.

Over at Mercedes, race wins for Hamilton at Silverstone and Belgium have demonstrated the Silver Arrows’ resurgence, and as he gears up for his final ten races at Mercedes before moving to Ferrari there’s no doubt both the seven-time world champion and the team will be looking to finish strongly. Despite winning two races earlier in the season, Ferrari’s performance has been rather lacklustre overall, so the upgrades it’s set to bring to Zandvoort carry promise that drivers Carlos Sainz Jr. and Leclerc can be more competitive and join in the battles up front.

At least Sainz will now be driving knowing his future is secure – a move to Williams was announced just after Spa, while Haas will have a brand new line up of Esteban Ocon and rookie Oliver Bearman in 2025. But while some drivers have their seats, others like Daniel Ricciardo and even still Pérez know they need to perform in the second half of the season, and with Mercedes yet to announce a replacement for Hamilton, there’s a lot still up in the air ahead of the final ten races.

When can I watch the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix?

Action at Zandvoort begins on Friday, with Free Practice 1 at 11:30 UK time (12:30 local time), followed by Free Practice 2 at 15:00 (16:00). Saturday starts off with Free Practice 3 at 10:30 (11:30) ahead of qualifying for the grand prix at 14:00 (15:00). Lights out for the Dutch Grand Prix is at 14:00 (15:00) on Sunday 25^th August.

How to watch the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix

Sky Sports retains exclusive rights to all live coverage of F1 in the UK. Every session of the Dutch Grand Prix will be shown live and uninterrupted on Sky Sports F1.

US viewers can catch all the action on ESPN, and Australian audiences can watch on Kayo Sports. The F1 TV Pro app will also provide coverage of every F1 session across the weekend to several countries the world over.

Which series are supporting in The Netherlands?

F1 Academy returns to action at Zandvoort for the first time since the end of June. Last time out in Barcelona Abbi Pulling led the way, topping the standings for both practice and qualifying and winning race 1, but a weekend of dominance was thwarted by Chloe Chambers who took the victory in race 2. Pulling remains atop of the standings however, with a healthy 66-point lead over Doriane Pin with four rounds remaining.

Both Formula 2 and Formula 3 will return to action in Monza at the end of August.

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.