F1 Dutch Grand Prix predictions: Who can stop Verstappen on home patch?

Free F1 tips, best bets and analysis for the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix weekend at Zandvoort, Netherlands.

Where to watch

Practice one & two
Sky Sports F1, 11.30am & 3pm Friday

Practice three & qualifying
Sky Sports F1, 11am & 2pm Saturday

Race
Sky Sports F1, 2pm Sunday

Best bets

Lewis Hamilton podium finish
1pt 7-4 Coral

Race preview

There will be a raucous party atmosphere in the Dutch seaside town of Zandvoort this weekend as home hero Max Verstappen likely takes another step towards clinching his second Formula 1 drivers title.

Starting down the grid has been no barrier to the flying Dutchman recently. Reliability issues in qualifying in Hungary saw him start tenth, but Verstappen still won comfortably despite a spin during the race.

And a penalty in Belgium last weekend meant he started 14th, but Verstappen was in a class of his own as he sliced through the field to put his Red Bull's nose in front after just 12 laps.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was locked in battle with Verstappen in the early part of the season, but finds himself 98 points adrift with eight races to go. He's not mathematically out of it, but needs a miracle to stop the Dutchman now.

Mercedes returned from the summer break in confident mood but they received a reality check in Belgium. Having claimed their first pole position of the season through George Russell in Hungary before the four-week shutdown, Lewis Hamilton was 1.8 seconds adrift in qualifying in the lead Mercedes last weekend.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton was challenging for second place when he crashed out on the first lap, though, and Russell looked set to challenge Ferrari's Carlos Sainz for third late in the race before an error checked his charge.

The twistier Zandvoort track should suit the Silver Arrows much better than Spa, and Hamilton looks overpriced to bounce back with a seventh podium of the season on Sunday.

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