It’s race week again after a one-month break, and we are off to Zandvoort to open the second half of the season here in the Dutch Grand Prix.
The 2024 Formula 1 season has been as close as it gets in the first half, as there have been seven different race-winners so far. And before the break, it was Lewis Hamilton picking up form, winning two of the last three races in Silverstone and Spa.
While Max Verstappen still leads by a mile in the drivers’ standings, his team’s lead in the constructors’ standings has been reduced significantly, putting them in a precarious position ahead of this weekend.
Red Bull must get their act together fast since their rivals are closing in. And besides Mercedes, one particular opponent they have to look out for is McLaren, who are right behind them in the constructors’ standings.
Incoming McLaren upgrades should keep Red Bull on their toes
According to the Dutch Grand Prix 2024 updates, McLaren are going to bring in a raft of upgrades in Zandvoort to continue to put pressure on Red Bull at the top of the Formula 1 pecking order. The last time they did this was in Miami, and doing so netted them their first win of the season, courtesy of Lando Norris.
Since the Miami Grand Prix, the MCL38 has been one of the fastest cars in the paddock, which is why they’re in great position to potentially take over the top spot in the constructors’ standings this weekend. For this to happen, the Papayas need to secure a one-two finish and for Red Bull to go scoreless.
Between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, it is the former who’s in better form, as he won in Hungaroring and finished second in Spa, while the latter placed second and fifth during the last two races.
Norris would’ve been in a better position if it weren’t for his costly mistake in Spa, which saw him lose positions early in the race.
McLaren aren’t supposed to be in this position in the first place, especially at the start of the year. But now, they have to buckle up and act like viable contenders for this year’s constructors’ championship.
Time is running out for Daniel Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo was one of the feel-good stories last year because he made his triumphant Formula 1 comeback, but fast forward to today, and his job is on the line once more.
So far this year, the Australian has been in the points territory three times (Canada, Austria, and Belgium) and suffered two DNFs, which is not exactly the way to convince your employers to extend your stay.
The eight-time Grand Prix winner is out of contract at the end of the season, and his hope of replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull next year has already gone after Checo signed a new deal in June to keep him in the team until the end of 2026.
It doesn’t help Ricciardo either that RB are thinking about replacing him with a younger driver in Liam Lawson, as the reserve driver showed glimpses of his potential last year when he recorded a P9 finish during the Singapore Grand Prix.
History
The Dutch Grand Prix is one of the oldest races on the Formula 1 calendar, but the league committee stopped holding races in Zandvoort after 1985 since the circuit had to undergo huge changes.
It was brought back in 2021, and Max Verstappen has secured pole and won all three previous editions of this race, making him the joint-second-winningest driver on this track alongside Niki Lauda (1974, 1977, and 1985) and Jackie Stewart (1968, 1969, and 1973).
Jim Clark has the most victories at Zandvoort with four (1963, 1964, 1965, and 1967).
What are the odds?
The Dutch Grand Prix 2024 odds are surprisingly no longer overwhelmingly in favour of Max Verstappen, as the Dutchman is priced at 2.53 in the actual race compared to 1.47 against any other driver.
While Max Verstappen can still win at home, he’ll face some stiff competition against Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, and Lewis Hamilton, given their prices of 1.55, 1.65, and 1.80, respectively. Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri and George Russell are in contention for a spot on the podium at 1.95 and 2.02.
In terms of the team head-to-heads, the SBOTOP pre-race odds expect McLaren (1.65) to outperform Red Bull (2.20), especially since Sergio Perez has struggled to find form and is not expected to do so on Sunday.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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