Formula 1 returns after the summer break with the Dutch Grand Prix and the fifth sprint weekend of the 2026 season.

Kimi Antonelli leads the world championship standings by 50 points and secured a podium last time out in Hungary. His nearest challenger is Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, while Mercedes teammate George Russell is a further five points off the pace.

Lando Norris claimed his and McLaren’s first victory of the season in Budapest and the reigning world champions will be looking to continue their decent form after the three-week summer recess.

Yet this year’s event at Zandvoort will be the last at the old-school circuit, with the Dutch GP’s contract not being renewed with F1 beyond 2026. It gives Max Verstappen, who signed a new contract this week, one last opportunity to add to his three wins in front of his adoring orange-clad supporters.

Follow live coverage of the Dutch Grand Prix with The Independent

What time is sprint qualifying?

Sprint qualifying is at 3:30pm (BST) at Zandvoort.

George Russell says his Mercedes seat "never felt under threat" from Max Verstappen

Russell said: "It's only really a topic for us when we're sat in front of you guys in the press and you want to ask these questions and understand what's going on.

"That's just the nature of the sport. Drivers talk with different teams, teams talk with different drivers. Everyone has to just see what their cards are.

"But my seat never felt under threat, and I felt 100 per cent secure with Toto and the team, and that obviously now continues."

What has Verstappen said about his new deal?

“I was closer to retiring than changing teams,” Verstappen said. “I like it here. I think it would be a great story if that were possible, being picked up by Red Bull and finishing your career with one team.

“I don't feel the need to change just to change… after the first few races [this season], I said to Laurent, 'Don't come to me with any kind of questions about the future because I didn't even know if I want to stay’.

“But honestly, we always kept it very open. I love racing, and I had a lot of very good discussions with F1, but also with the FIA. We are slowly working towards something that becomes better and better.”

Max Verstappen, a record-breaking Red Bull stay and a show of faith in Formula 1

In the space of six months, it has been some turnaround. The first time Max Verstappen drove the much-maligned, energy-dependent breed of 2026 Formula 1 car at February testing in Bahrain, his response was apoplectic. “Anti-racing” and “like Formula E on steroids” were two such protestations.

Six weeks on, after round three at one of Formula 1’s staple high-speed circuits, Suzuka in Japan, the Dutchman’s disgruntlement had reached boiling point. Quitting the sport seemed a real eventuality.

**Full piece below: **

What does the second-half of the season look like?

ROUND 12 - NETHERLANDS (sprint weekend)

Circuit Zandvoort - 21-23 August

ROUND 13 - ITALY

Monza Circuit - 4-6 September

ROUND 14 - SPAIN (Madrid)

Circuito de Madring - 11-13 September

ROUND 15 - AZERBAIJAN

Baku City Circuit - 25-27 September

ROUND 16 - MALAYSIA/BAHRAIN

Sepang International Circuit - 2-4 October

ROUND 17 - SINGAPORE (sprint weekend)

Marina Bay Street Circuit - 9-11 October

ROUND 18 - UNITED STATES

Circuit of the Americas, Austin - 23-25 October

ROUND 19 - MEXICO

Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City - 30 October-1 November

ROUND 20 - BRAZIL

Interlagos Circuit, Sao Paulo - 6-8 November

ROUND 21 - LAS VEGAS

Las Vegas Street Circuit - 19-21 November

ROUND 22 - QATAR

Lusail International Circuit - 27-29 November

**ROUND 23 - ABU DHABI **

Yas Marina Circuit - 4-6 December

Constructor standings ahead of Dutch GP

  1. Mercedes - 379 points

  2. Ferrari - 307 points

  3. McLaren - 220 points

  4. Red Bull - 177 points

  5. Racing Bulls - 66 points

  6. Alpine - 61 points

  7. Haas - 21 points

  8. Audi - 12 points

  9. Williams - 11 points

  10. Aston Martin - 1 point

  11. Cadillac - 0 points

Official F1 weather for today

Conditions: The weather is expected to be mild, with temperatures ranging from 16.5C to 19C, and a track temperature peaking at 30.1C. There’s a 60% chance of rain, so light precipitation is favoured, but conditions should mostly remain dry.

Winds will be moderate, averaging around 15.8 kph with gusts up to 32.4 kph. Overall, it should be a good day for racing with relatively stable weather expected.

Maximum temperature expected: 19 Celsius

Minimum temperature expected: 16.5 Celsius

Chance of rain: 60%

Top-10 in the driver standings

Kimi Antonelli has a 50-point lead over Lewis Hamilton.

  1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 219 points

  2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 169 points

  3. George Russell (Mercedes) - 160 points

  4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 138 points

  5. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 128 points

  6. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 92 points

  7. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) - 68 points

  8. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 43 points

  9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 42 points

George Russell plans to ‘drive fast’ in bid to get title challenge back on track

“I want to not overthink it, trust in my ability and drive a little more instinctively. That’s maybe what I wasn’t doing before the break,” Russell said.

“I know what I need to achieve probably with my driving style but rather than having it in the forefront of my mind, it’s more in the back of my mind now.

“I’ve had time to rest and think. A few days back in the simulator, I know what I want to achieve but I can keep it in the back of my mind and think about driving fast”