Christian Klien: These are his favourites to win the Zandvoort Grand Prix

Formula 1 is back in action: this week, the second half of the season gets underway with the race weekend at Zandvoort, and fans have plenty to look forward to, as the field has tightened up once again ahead of the summer break. In the most recent showdown in Hungary, no fewer than four different teams were represented in the top four.

World Champion Lando Norris secured victory in his McLaren ahead of Red Bull Racing star Max Verstappen. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli of the Mercedes team rounded off the top three, whilst Ferrari ace Charles Leclerc was delighted to finish fourth following the five-second penalty imposed on his team-mate Lewis Hamilton for ignoring the speed limit in the pit lane.

Praise for championship leader Kimi Antonelli

Former F1 driver and ServusTV pundit Christian Klien commented: “This result is a sign that Formula 1 is becoming more balanced. We’re further into the season, the teams now understand the hybrid engines better and they’re picking up certain things from the competition.” At the same time, the Austrian warns: “How well or poorly the cars perform can change depending on the nature of the circuit.”

Antonelli is delivering consistently strong performances and was able to further extend his championship lead at the Hungaroring. “Even on a more difficult weekend, he always stays ahead of his team-mate George Russell,” says Klien of the young rising star. “It’s quite astonishing just how strong he’s been in only his second season. Things are slowly getting tight for the others in the title race.”

Clear favourite for victory at Zandvoort

However, the 49-time Grand Prix starter sees other drivers as the big favourites for victory at Zandvoort. He is convinced that McLaren has the best chance on the dune circuit. “They’ve won at Zandvoort for the past two years, and the layout, with its many slow corners, is similar to that in Hungary. Ferrari should actually cope well with the circuit too. Only then do I see Mercedes and Red Bull Racing,” is the 43-year-old’s prediction.

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TV program

Tomorrow

Zandvoort: 1. Freies Training

FIA Formula One World Championship

21.08.2026 - 12:15

ServusTV will be focusing on the historically successful McLaren team – a traditional force in the Netherlands – alongside the racing action, and there will also be a sentimental farewell to Zandvoort. In the ‘Heroes Live Forever’ segment, we’ll take a look back at Niki Lauda’s very last Grand Prix victory in the North Sea dunes in 1985. And Alpine veteran Pierre Gasly gives an exclusive interview. Andrea Schlager and Christian Klien report live from the pit lane at the Zandvoort Circuit, with commentary provided by Andreas Gröbl and Mathias Lauda.

Dutch Grand Prix on ServusTV and ServusTV On (available in Austria only)