The race at Circuit Zandvoort was chaotic due to two heavy rain showers, which made for a great show: never before had there been so many overtaking during a race.
The resumption of the championship from the summer break turned into a struggle for survival, between the follies of an unstable weather and the craziness of the teams during the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix. All in all, it was a very exciting race, which gave us an unexpected podium.
Some characteristics on the circuit
The Zandvoort circuit is known to be a track where overtaking is very difficult. The track is very short with its 4.259 km and 14 turns. Those turns are articulated in continuous gradient and banking changes. The most famous are turn 3 and turn 14, where the inclination can reach a value of 18 degrees. Because of this particular track, the mechanical set-up of the cars is important, it requires a higher ground clearance in order not to touch the plank in banking bends.
A Reddit user checked how many overtaking maneuvers were carried out during the Dutch GP. It emerged that there were 186 overtakes, a real record. This number excludes pit stops and first lap overtaking. Of these 186 overtakes, 59 were broadcast live. Which tells you something about how poor F1 TV direction is at times, but that’s for another time. Careful analysis shows that more than a third of overtaking was done in a single lap. The third lap of the Dutch GP, characterized by rain, counted 63 overtakes. This is a new Formula 1 record: never before have there been so many overtakes in one lap. The previous record was 45 overtakes.
Previously, the record belonged to the Chinese Grand Prix. During the 2016 edition, there were 170 overtakes. The Chinese Grand Prix was last held in 2019 due to covid-related issues in the country. In 2024, however, the Chinese Grand Prix will return to the Formula 1 calendar.
A race full of records
Of these numerous overtakes, Fernando Alonso is the one who has carried out the most, with 13. The Spaniard served an exemplary performance with Aston Martin. Thanks to careful technical care, flashes of absolute class. The smile of his best days was seen again for the seventh podium of the season. Podium number 105 arrived 20 years, 5 months and 4 days after Alonso’s first. (surpassing Schumacher’s record).
Staying on the topic of records, among these it is also important to mention that of the irrepressible Verstappen. He is at the 46th victory in his career, the 11th of the season, and with this race Max takes the ninth consecutive victory in the Dutch GP and equalizes the record that was held by Vettel since 2013. And it is precisely in this way that while the Dutchman continues to win the heart of his nation, he confirms that he is now an established icon in the sport.
In short, the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix 2023 this year amid incessant rains, wrong pit stops, chaos and uncertainties still managed to give us a race full of new records, thus proving to be unforgettable and captivating.
