The second half of the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship™ begins this weekend, with the Cadillac Formula 1® Team heading to Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix, Round 12 of the season.

The Dutch Grand Prix first joined the World Championship calendar in 1952. Held at Zandvoort until 1985, the race returned in 2021 and has since become one of the most popular events on the calendar. This year's race is expected to be the last for the foreseeable future, with the current contract ending after the event.

The Dutch Grand Prix draws a huge, raucous crowd into a compact venue, creating an electric atmosphere dominated by the unmistakable orange of the Dutch fans.

Set among the dunes of North Holland, Zandvoort is a narrow, bumpy and sinuous circuit. Its banked corners create opportunities for multiple racing lines, while the final turn, Arie Luyendyk Bocht, is taken at full throttle and effectively extends the main straight into Tarzan Bocht- the Turn One hairpin.

The coastal location also makes weather a factor. Strong sea winds can unsettle the cars, while sand blowing across the track can affect grip. Conditions can change quickly from sunshine to summer showers, making Zandvoort an unpredictable and exciting place to race.

Marcin Budkowski: "A Sprint weekend at Zandvoort is an energetic and compelling way to start my tenure with the Cadillac Formula 1 Team. This is my first week with the team, and the Dutch Grand Prix is my initial opportunity to observe our trackside team in operation. I'll be taking the time to meet everyone - though there are many familiar faces - listen to them, and understand how the team works. The team has made a strong start to its F1 program, there is a solid foundation on which to build, and I'm excited to make progress in the second half of the season."

While Zandvoort had decades away from the F1 calendar, it remained a mainstay of the European racing scene, and both Cadillac Formula 1® Team drivers gained a wealth of experience here, both standing on the podium during their junior careers. Since the circuit returned to F1 in 2021, Checo has scored points in each of his four appearances in the Dutch Grand Prix. Valtteri, who has also contested four, finished on the podium in 2021.

Checo Pérez: "After an intense first half of the season, it is good that everyone gets some downtime in August, but it also feels great to be back at a racing circuit. The second half of this season presents a new range of challenges but also hopefully some great opportunities, and I can't wait to get started. I am looking forward to getting up to speed quickly with Marcin and the rest of the team."

Valtteri Bottas: "It's great to be returning to racing after a rejuvenating summer break. The Dutch Grand Prix is going to be an interesting test, with the Sprint weekend format requiring everyone to be at their very best from the moment we arrive at the circuit. It is also Marcin's first race with Cadillac F1 and I am sure he will bring a fresh approach to how we go racing. From a driver's perspective, it's a challenging circuit to visit, with fast, flowing corners that help you establish a good rhythm. The banking is fun too - we don't really see these too often in an F1 car."