F1 returns this week — FINALLY!
After a month-long summer break, Formula 1 is back, and the second half of the 2026 season begins at one of the most unique circuits on the calendar: Zandvoort.
The championship battle is far from finished. Kimi Antonelli enters the weekend with a healthy lead, but Lewis Hamilton and George Russell remain within striking distance with plenty of racing still ahead. One bad weekend for Antonelli combined with a big result for either of his challengers could quickly make this championship much more interesting.
Then there is Max Verstappen. The Dutchman may not be at the center of the championship fight this season, but Zandvoort is his home race — and with the circuit set to leave the F1 calendar after 2026, this weekend carries even more meaning.
So after waiting what feels like forever for Formula 1 to return, let’s break down my predicted top three for the Dutch Grand Prix.
1. George Russell — Back to Winning Ways
I’m going with George Russell to win at Zandvoort.
The first half of the season showed exactly what George and Mercedes are capable of, but Russell entered the summer break needing to rediscover some of the momentum he had earlier in the year. A month away from racing may have arrived at exactly the right time.
Sometimes a driver simply needs the opportunity to reset. George has had a month to clear his head, step away from the weekly pressure of a championship fight and come back refreshed. Add getting engaged during the break, and Russell should arrive at Zandvoort in a pretty good place mentally.
Now it’s time to get back to work.
George sits behind both Antonelli and Hamilton in the championship, meaning he can’t afford to spend the opening races of the second half slowly finding his rhythm. If he seriously wants to fight for his first World Championship, the comeback has to start now.
And I think it does.
Mercedes has already shown enough pace this season to win races, and Russell has shown throughout his career that when he’s given a car capable of fighting at the front, he can finish the job.
My prediction is that the summer break does George some good. He returns refreshed, puts together a complete weekend and begins chipping away at Antonelli’s championship advantage.
Prediction: George Russell wins the Dutch Grand Prix.
2. Max Verstappen — One Last Home-Race Show
There is absolutely no way I’m predicting Max Verstappen to leave one of his final races at Zandvoort empty-handed.
The Dutch Grand Prix has become synonymous with Max since Formula 1 returned to Zandvoort. The orange crowd, the atmosphere and an entire grandstand seemingly moving every time Verstappen does anything — this is his race.
And this weekend means a little more.
With Zandvoort approaching the end of its time on the Formula 1 calendar, Max doesn’t have many more opportunities to race in front of his home fans here. He knows that, the fans know that, and Red Bull knows that.
The 2026 season hasn’t gone the way Verstappen or Red Bull would have wanted from a championship perspective, but Max is still Max. Put him on a technical circuit in front of tens of thousands of Dutch fans and give him even the slightest opportunity to fight near the front, and I’m not betting against him producing something special.
He has already built an incredible history at this circuit. This time, I don’t quite have him winning, but I do believe he’ll give the Dutch fans another memorable performance.
George takes the victory, but Max makes sure he’s right there.
Prediction: Max Verstappen finishes P2.
3. Lewis Hamilton — The Title Charge Continues
Lewis Hamilton smells blood.
Kimi Antonelli may have a 50-point championship lead, but there is still a long way to go in this season. Hamilton enters the second half sitting second in the championship, and every podium from this point forward puts a little more pressure on the young Mercedes driver at the top.
Zandvoort hasn’t necessarily been Hamilton’s greatest circuit, but he has had success here. He finished second when Formula 1 returned to the circuit in 2021, proving he can certainly perform around this incredibly demanding track.
Last year’s visit was one Lewis would rather forget, as his 2025 Dutch Grand Prix ended with a crash and his first retirement as a Ferrari driver.
I think 2026 goes very differently.
Lewis knows exactly what a championship fight requires. He’s been through title battles that went down to the final race, he’s chased championships from behind, and he’s dealt with pressure at a level very few drivers in Formula 1 history can understand.
Antonelli might have the advantage on the scoreboard, but Hamilton isn’t going to look at a 50-point deficit with half a season remaining and believe this thing is finished.
He’s going hunting.
I don’t quite have the Ferrari capable of beating Russell and Verstappen around Zandvoort this weekend, but I think Lewis does exactly what a championship contender needs to do: score heavily, stand on the podium and keep taking chunks out of the lead whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Prediction: Lewis Hamilton finishes P3.
My Zandvoort Podium
P1 — George Russell, Mercedes
P2 — Max Verstappen, Red Bull
P3 — Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
The summer break is over. The championship fight resumes. Russell needs to start closing the gap, Hamilton has a legitimate opportunity to put pressure on Antonelli, and Verstappen gets another chance to put on a show in front of the Orange Army.
Three different teams. Three drivers with three completely different motivations.
And that’s exactly why I think Zandvoort could be the perfect race to welcome Formula 1 back.
F1 is finally back. Let’s go racing.
If you enjoyed the predictions, make sure to like the post and subscribe to Ethical Sports Takes for more F1 coverage throughout the second half of the season.
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