ZANDVOORT, Netherlands (AP) Max Verstappen is staying in Formula 1 , the Dutch Grand Prix is leaving and theres a long-awaited chance to see how this years cars cope in the rain,
F1 returns from its mid-season break with a different sort of challenge for the drivers. Persistent rain fell Friday morning as the Dutch Grand Prix gets under way with only a single practice session before heading straight into qualifying for Saturdays sprint race.
Its set to be the first time the 2026 cars and their formidable electrical power have been tried in the rain as part of a race weekend, outside of a brief spell in Januarys preseason shakedown runs.
Im looking forward to it. I think its going to be very exciting, said Kimi Antonelli, who heads into the second half of the season with a 50-point lead in his push to become F1s youngest-ever champion. Its going be a big challenge for everyone because theres so much unknown in wet conditions, but its a condition that I enjoy.
Ferrari and McLaren optimistic of chasing down Antonelli
The closest challengers to Antonelli and Mercedes dominance are back with reasons to be confident.
Lewis Hamilton is second in the standings and returns, he says, the fittest hes ever been after a mid-season break devoted to training rather than partying, and hes pleased with Ferraris innovative approach to developing his car.
Lando Norris won the last race before the break in Hungary for McLaren. The Zandvoort track has some similarities to the Hungaroring in its short straights, twisty layout, but the weather couldnt be more different, and there are far more vocal orange-wearing Dutch fans cheering on Verstappen.
The Dutch Grand Prix is a unique race. Heres why its leaving
Verstappen may have committed to Red Bull on a new contract through 2030, but theres no sign of the Dutch race staying beyond this year.
The 80s rock anthem The Final Countdown rang around the venue Thursday as organizers gear up for the sixth and final race since returning to the F1 calendar in 2021.
The race is a privately run operation in a calendar packed with races that boast government backing. Citing risks and responsibilities, organizers said in 2024 theyd rather go out on a high with two more races and no more.
Something else makes the Dutch Grand Prix stand out, too. Almost all fans attending are barred from driving to the track because the seaside resort town puts strict rules on traffic. Instead, they must take the train from Amsterdam or in a uniquely Dutch take on F1 join the tens of thousands riding bikes to Zandvoort.
Lawson and Tsunoda need to learn fast
Liam Lawson only learned on Monday he was being promoted to the main Red Bull team after Isack Hadjar injured his wrist . Lawson has only tried the unfamiliar car on the simulator so far, in a hastily arranged session Wednesday.
Lawsons promotion means Yuki Tsunoda is back on the grid with Racing Bulls. He hasnt raced under the new-for-2026 regulations at all.
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荷兰赞德沃特（美联社）——马克斯·维斯塔潘将继续征战一级方程式赛车（F1），而荷兰大奖赛即将告别赛历。此外，人们也终于有机会一睹今年新款赛车在雨战中的表现。
F1赛事结束夏休期回归，为车手们带来了别样的挑战。荷兰大奖赛周五上午在持续降雨中拉开帷幕，车手们仅有一次练习赛机会，随后便直接进入周六冲刺赛的排位赛阶段。
这将是2026款赛车及其强大的电力系统首次在雨天的比赛周末中接受考验，此前仅在1月份的季前短暂试车中有过类似情况。
“我非常期待这场比赛，相信会非常精彩，”基米·安东内利说道。这位有望成为F1史上最年轻冠军的车手，以50分的领先优势进入赛季后半程。“湿滑赛道充满未知因素，这对所有人都是巨大挑战，但我很享受这种比赛条件。”
法拉利和迈凯伦对追赶安东内利持乐观态度
安东内利与梅赛德斯统治地位的最有力挑战者们已卷土重来，且信心十足。
刘易斯·汉密尔顿目前排名第二，他表示自己在赛季中期的休整期间专注于训练而非娱乐，如今归来时身体状态达到前所未有的最佳水平。同时，他对法拉利车队在赛车研发上采用的创新方法表示满意。
兰多·诺里斯代表迈凯伦车队在匈牙利站夏休前的最后一战中夺冠。赞德沃特赛道与匈牙利赛道在短直道和曲折布局上有些相似，但天气却截然不同，而且这里有更多身着橙色服装、热情高涨的荷兰车迷为维斯塔潘加油助威。
荷兰大奖赛是一场独具特色的赛事。以下是它即将停办的原因
尽管维斯塔潘已与红牛车队续约至2030年，但荷兰大奖赛今年之后能否继续举办仍无定数。
周四，随着组织者为自2021年重返F1赛历以来的第六场也是最后一场比赛做准备，80年代摇滚圣歌《The Final Countdown》响彻赛场。
这项赛事由私人运营，而同期其他多数赛事均享有政府支持。主办方以“风险与责任”为由，宣布2024年将再举办两场后激流勇退，称更愿“在巅峰时期谢幕”。
荷兰大奖赛的另一大特色在于交通管制。由于这座海滨度假小镇对车辆通行有严格限制，几乎所有观赛者都不得驾车前往赛道。取而代之的是，他们必须从阿姆斯特丹乘火车前往——或者以荷兰人特有的方式参与F1赛事——与数万人一同骑行自行车前往赞德沃特。
劳森和角田需要快速成长
利亚姆·劳森（Liam Lawson）直到周一才得知，由于伊萨克·哈贾尔（Isack Hadjar）手腕受伤，自己将被提拔至红牛一队。截至目前，劳森仅在周三匆忙安排的模拟器测试中体验过这款陌生赛车。
劳森（Lawson）的晋升意味着角田裕毅（Yuki Tsunoda）将代表小红牛车队重返赛场。他尚未在2026赛季新规下参加过任何比赛。
