Dutch GP: Preview

Verstappen could win his home race three times in a row with a victory this weekend (Image Credit: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Can Verstappen equal Vettel's record?

It is fair to say that Red Bull and Max Verstappen has been very dominant this season. The Austrian team has won 100% of the races throughout this 2023 season with no other team being able to be close to the reigning world champions.

The dominance has lead to Max Verstappen having the chance of matching Sebastian Vettel's record of nine consecutive race wins. The German managed to achieve this with Red Bull back in 2013.

Verstappen has won every race since the Miami Grand Prix. Teammate, Sergio Perez, has been nowhere near the pace shown by the Dutchman, leading to the 25-year-old having a convincing championship lead over his Mexican teammate.

Therefore, the reigning world champion could equal the four-time world champions' long-standing record at his home race, which he has won the previous two times. Do you think Verstappen will do it?

McLaren to bounce back?

McLaren had a tricky race in Spa at the Belgian Grand Prix. Before heading into Spa, Lando Norris was going into it off the back of two consecutive podium finishes in Silverstone and Budapest. Oscar Piastri also achieved strong results in both races, achieving fourth and fifth.

However, the Woking team struggled significantly at the Belgian Grand Prix. Their MCL60 car - since the new upgrades - has worked really well with a high downforce set up.

This is where the problem came into Spa. However, they had a slight glimmer of hope with the weather forecast - as it was raining. With the rain, higher downforce set ups would be required, suiting the McLaren to a tee.

However, the race ended up being dry, meaning that McLaren had the complete wrong set up, resulting in being eaten alive on the straights due to the amount of drag. By the end of the race, Piastri had retired from the race on lap one after contact with Sainz. As for Norris, despite his limitations, the Briton managed to reach the chequered flag in seventh.

Despite the disappointing result in Belgium, McLaren should be getting their hopes for this weekend's race in Zandvoort. The Zandvoort Circuit is a high downforce circuit, suiting the MCL60 car. Could we see McLaren achieve their first double podium finish since the 2021 Italian Grand Prix?

Aston Martin to rediscover their form?

The last few races has not gone to plan for Aston Martin before the summer break. The Silverstone team had gone from fighting for podium finishes to fighting for the last points positions.

The last podium finish Aston Martin managed to achieve was back at the Canadian Grand Prix with Fernando Alonso's second place finish. The Silverstone team brought upgrades to that race, which made the team that the Spanish Grand Prix would be the last race without an Aston Martin on the podium.

However, the 'upgrades' have lead the team down a negative spiral in results, slipping away from Mercedes in the constructors' championship and having Ferrari close the gap in fourth.

Aston Martin were Red Bull's closest challenger at the start of the season - with Fernando Alonso achieving multiple podium finishes and fighting for pole position.

However, team principal Mike Krack believes that the upgrades has caused side effects to the AMR23, leaving it with a harder operating window for the set up of the car.

Despite the recent struggles, the Silverstone team are bringing upgrades to the Dutch Grand Prix, including a significant floor change, in the hope of rediscovering their impressive form at the start of the season. Who do you think will turn up as the second-quickest car at the Dutch Grand Prix?

Predictions