🇳🇱 Dutch GP Report 2026

Franco came back from the summer break firing on all cylinders at Zandvoort, in the final F1 race at this circuit.

Published

24 Ago 2026

Est. reading time

3 min

🇳🇱 Dutch GP Report 2026

Circuit: Circuit Zandvoort, Netherlands 21–23 August 2026

Race results:

🥇 P1: Lando Norris, McLaren — 2:04:44.859 🥈 P2: Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes — 2:04:56.395 🥉 P3: George Russell, Mercedes — 2:05:00.765 🇫🇷 P10: Pierre Gasly — 1 point 🇦🇷 P14: Franco Colapinto

A historic weekend at Zandvoort, the last time Formula 1 races at this circuit for now, and Franco was at his best from the very first moment. A spectacular launch carried him into the points, but a drive-through penalty for a yellow flag infringement on lap 1 shaped the rest of his race. He fought back regardless and finished P14, showing the character that defines him.

Don't miss the best photos from the Zandvoort weekend:

Highlights

Sprint Race: finished P12, gaining positions from P14 with a strong launch and consistent battles through the midfield.

Race: started on medium tyres from P13. Made a spectacular launch, gaining 4 positions in the opening corners and moving into the points. After VER's crash and the lap 1 red flag, Franco was investigated for a yellow flag infringement during his overtake on TSU. The drive-through penalty on lap 9 dropped him from P10 to P20 in seconds. He fought back with determination to finish P14.

He also received an additional 10-second post-race penalty for the same yellow flag infringement, plus 2 superlicence points deducted.

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Technical data

FP1: P13, best lap: 1:13.497 (softs)

Sprint Qualifying: P14, best lap: 1:12.318 (mediums)

Sprint Race: Start P14, Result P12

Qualifying: P14, best lap: 1:12.089 (softs)

Race

Start: P14 (new mediums)

Result: P14

Points: 0

Fastest lap: P14 — 1:15.203 (hards)

Strategy: Stop 1: lap 22 (mediums → hards)

In-race penalty: drive-through (lap 9) for yellow flag infringement on lap 1

Post-race penalty: additional 10 seconds + 2 superlicence points deducted

What Franco and the team said

A result that doesn't reflect the pace or the effort he showed all weekend. Franco took it with maturity and kept his eyes forward: "A challenging race for us today” “I had a very strong start, overtook four cars, and was up into the points. From then on it was looking like it would be a good race for us, but after the penalty our day was compromised.” And he keeps cheering on the team: “It is positive that Pierre finished in P10 and was able to score a point with the upgraded package. I will have the same upgrades at the next round in Monza and I'm looking forward to racing with it and really being in contention for scoring points."

Flavio Briatore added: "We leave Zandvoort a little frustrated even if we gained two points.” He also said “We brought upgrades to this race, which have clearly made an impact.” And about our driver’s performance: “Franco's race was very much over from the start after a severe, and harsh, drive-through penalty. While we know it's disappointing for him, we acknowledge that these rules are in place for safety and it is something we must learn from. Far from a perfect race weekend for us, but we head to Monza ready to continue the fight."

Next race

🇮🇹 Italian Grand Prix: 4–6 September 2026, Monza

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See you at Monza!

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