Max Verstappen still expected to get Dutch Grand Prix boost in Lewis Hamilton title fight

F1: Verstappen and Hamilton verbally spar

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Max Verstappen has received a much-needed boost to his title aspirations after Dutch authorities suggested that fans would be permitted at the Grand Prix at Zandvoort on September 3. Verstappen currently trails championship rival Lewis Hamilton by eight points.

Fears had been growing over fan attendance at the event after prime minister Mark Rutte and the Dutch government cancelled multi-day music festivals on July 26, with organisers of the Grand Prix saying they would postpone the return of Formula One to the Netherlands until the 2022 season if supporters were limited having sold nearly all of the available tickets for the entire weekend. 

While the final decision over spectators will be unknown until Rutte makes an official announcement on August 13, there is confidence that the Grand Prix will go ahead at full capacity. 

JUST IN:Red Bull take dig at Mercedes amid Verstappen vs Hamilton tension

A statement on the Dutch edition of Motorsport.com read: “On 26 July, the government announced that multi-day music festivals would be cancelled. To be clear: the F1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix is a sports event and therefore does not fall under the regulation for multi-day must festivals.”

This is already the second attempt to bring back top tier racing to the Netherlands, after plans to return to the track in 2020 were scuppered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Formula One was last seen at Zandvoort in 1985, when Niki Lauda won his 25th and final Grand Prix ahead of Alain Prost.

DON’T MISS:
Russell explains why Hamilton is better than F1 title rival Verstappen
Mercedes boss Wolff sends message to Verstappen – ‘Nothing to lose’
Latifi sends message to Williams in case Russell joins Hamilton

The track has undergone renovations in recent years to ensure its safety for Formula One racing, and there has also been the installation of 90,000 seats which takes the capacity of the venue to 105,000.

Verstappen will no doubt be hoping that enormous crowds will give him the extra edge needed to conquer the track and indeed Hamilton, having seen a 32-point advantage in the Drivers’ Championship evaporate in just two race weekends. Hamilton’s own home crowd of 140,000 people at Silverstone saw him overcome the 10-second penalty given by officials for crashing into Verstappen to win the race.

Subsequently, Verstappen’s car was damaged after a driver error by Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas at the Hungarian Grand Prix which meant that he was unable to compete for a place on the podium and saw Hamilton take an eight-point lead in the title race.

Verstappen is used to seeing smatterings of his die-hard supporters at race weekends as they don their unmistakable outfits, but that will not compare to the sea of orange that will greet him at Zandvoort should the crowd be allowed.

Formula One returns with the Belgian Grand Prix on August 27, with the Dutch Grand Prix taking place the following weekend.

Source: Read Full Article