5 storylines to keep an eye on as F1 ACADEMY returns to Zandvoort

The wait is almost over, as F1 ACADEMY heads back to the racetrack following the summer break for Round 4 of the 2024 campaign.

Another returning venue from last season, the Circuit Zandvoort is a well-known challenge for the field after in-season testing earlier this year.

READ MORE: Nina Gademan secures F1 ACADEMY Wild Card entry for Round 4 in Zandvoort

Last time out, Chloe Chambers added her name to the winners’ list with a spectacular performance in Barcelona Race 2 so, even if the weather isn’t hotting up, our title fight is. But who will come out on top in the Netherlands this time around? That’s just one intriguing storyline to watch out for this weekend…

Halfway there

The first three rounds of the season have certainly delivered plenty of memorable moments. As the field look towards Zandvoort, they close their chapter on the opening phase and turn their attentions towards the road to Abu Dhabi’s season finale.

A lot can happen between now and then and it’s never too late to turn things around, but the narratives of the drivers’ campaigns are being written. Across Jeddah, Miami and Barcelona, we saw three new race winners and seven different podium finishers, and at least one trophy heading back to each team’s base.

Some drivers raced out of the gates and immediately made an impression, whilst others have taken each session step-by-step and progressed up the order. With half of the season in the books after this weekend, all will be looking to kick things up a gear from now on.

Pulling and Rodin riding high

Abbi Pulling and Rodin Motorsport's start to the season can certainly be described as title-worthy. Four wins in six races, and two podiums, mean that the Alpine driver is yet to finish lower than second this year, but she knows consistency is just as important as winning in the long-run.

It would be easy for the Briton to start dreaming of being crowned Champion with her 66-point lead in the Drivers’ Standings, but she says she’s keeping herself firmly grounded: “I'm putting all my attention and my energy on more productive things. The process of how I'm going to do it rather than [focusing on] staying in the lead by the end.

“That’s not what I’m doing. I might lose some points this weekend, but at the end of the day, it is what it is. There’s a long year ahead, there’s more to go. Realistically, how often does a weekend like Miami happen? It doesn’t happen very often, so I’m taking everything as it comes.”

READ MORE: “Do your talking on track“ - Abbi Pulling on her F1 ACADEMY frontrunner status and climbing the motorsport ladder

Meanwhile, Rodin stand at the top of the Teams’ Standings by 23 points, but with the competition ramping up around them, they’ll need to drive their trio of Pulling, Jessica Edgar and Lola Lovinfosse forward together.

With Campos Racing and PREMA Racing looming close by — with all three teams separated by only 30 points — no team can afford an off weekend that could have big implications for their title aspirations.

Chambers and Campos on a charge

One aspect that can’t be overlooked is the eye-catching progress Chloe Chambers and Campos have been making. From the start, Chambers seemed to be settling well into F1 ACADEMY and in the mix for regular points, whilst Nerea Martí was promoted to the podium in Jeddah and Carrie Schreiner sealed two points-scoring finishes.

However, April’s in-season test at Zandvoort seemed to be a real springboard for their performance. Recording 10 top-10 times out of a possible 12 across the mixed conditions, they seemed to have unlocked even more pace, something which Team Manager Gabriella Parra credits to their strong line-up.

READ MORE: Parra credits Campos’ unity for Barcelona triumph as she hunts down Standings lead

Since then, they’ve delivered Chambers’ maiden podium at home in Miami and a win, with a dominant drive in Barcelona Race 2 and a double podium for Martí and the Haas driver in Race 1. Improvements in Qualifying pace have seen them close the gap, with Chambers and Martí sitting inside the top four and Campos now have their sights set on overhauling Rodin’s hold on the top spot.

The Spanish squad will arrive at the Dutch circuit full of fighting spirit and bolstered by the knowledge that, come rain or shine, they could hunt down another win.

Dutch delight

Bringing the race weekend to life, the Dutch fans certainly embrace their homegrown talent. This weekend, they’ll have quadruple the love to give as three Dutch racers and MP Motorsport aim to give them lots to celebrate.

Firstly, Nina Gademan will make her F1 ACADEMY debut as the Wild Card entry for Round 4, driving The Female Quotient-liveried car, as part of their landmark collaboration with the series. The 20-year-old made her single-seater debut this year in British F4 and has high hopes on securing a top-10 finish.

READ MORE: F1 ACADEMY announces collaboration with The Female Quotient

Ferrari’s Maya Weug will want to bounce back after a frustrating visit to Barcelona, where she failed to score points and dropped back from third to seventh in the Standings. The familiarity of home and a track she’s well-versed around could herald a reversal of fortunes and put her campaign back on track.

Emely De Heus heads home after getting her first points of the year on the board in Barcelona and her MP Motorsport team know how happy a hunting ground this track can be for them. In 2023, a storming weekend from Hamda Al Qubaisi saw her sweep both pole positions and two victories at a track she believes suits her driving style, whilst the Red Bull Ford driver gave MP a 1-2 finish in Race 3. The odds look favourable, but there are no guarantees in racing, particularly at Zandvoort.

A track like no other

Old-school in its style, the circuit has many fans amongst the drivers and teams alike. Swooping up and down Zandvoort’s sandy dunes, the 4.259km track will be a true test of the drivers’ bravery and skills, as they’ll need to manage the various compromises needed to get as close to perfection as possible.

They’ll be primed to overtake and defend in Turn 1, with the 180-degree wide corner and large braking zone making it a golden opportunity to gamble on a move, but the gravel trap surrounding it will punish any mistakes. Catch a glimpse of some side-by-side action as there are many ways to take the banked corners at Turns 3 and 14.

READ MORE: ‘I remember the pressure’ – Susie Wolff on her Silverstone FP1 debut 10 years on, and how F1 ACADEMY is powering change

Despite it being summer, expect the weather to play a central role across the weekend. With showers forecasted across Friday and Saturday, the drivers could face an uphill battle in their first wet weather sessions, besides in-season testing and face a dilemma of weighing up if it’s too wet for slicks or too dry for wets in Race 1.

For those further back in the Standings, a few showers could be a welcome chance to shake up the order and capitalise on their rivals’ errors.