Formula 1 is back after nearly four weeks away, and the paddock has descended on Zandvoort for what will be the iconic Dutch circuit's final ever Grand Prix. The Sprint weekend is kicking off with a single Free Practice session, and there's plenty to keep an eye on as the grid prepares for this historic farewell. One massive storyline is Max Verstappen's contract extension through 2030 that was announced just this week, meaning the Dutchman will stay at Red Bull Racing for the long haul. That's massive news for the team and the fans, especially with Zandvoort being his home race.

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As for the on-track battle, 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli is leading the Drivers' Championship with a commanding 50-point advantage over Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari. George Russell sits third for Mercedes, a further nine points back. The Constructors' standings are similarly dominated by Mercedes, who hold a 72-point cushion over Ferrari, though McLaren are knocking on the door after Lando Norris' brilliant Hungarian GP victory last weekend. It's shaping up to be a proper fight over the rest of the season.

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There's also some lineup shuffling at Red Bull this weekend. Young talent Liam Lawson gets his chance to step up for the injured Isack Hadjar, while Yuki Tsunoda makes his return to sister team Racing Bulls. The weather could play a role too, with forecasters predicting around a 50 percent chance of rain during FP1. If it pours, we could see the 2026 cars tested in wet conditions for the first time this season.

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On the technical front, teams have been busy preparing upgrades for Zandvoort. Ferrari are bringing five improvements to the SF-26, focusing on floor, diffuser, and beam wing changes. McLaren have three updates following their Hungarian success, while Mercedes and Red Bull are each introducing a single front corner modification. Alpine top the upgrade count with eight changes across multiple components, and Aston Martin have also prepared five performance upgrades in their bid to rescue their 2026 campaign.

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