In what F1 historians of the future will call ‘probably, in hindsight, a bad omen’, thousands of fans look like they’re going to miss the Dutch Grand Prix sprint race on Saturday.
Amsterdam Central train station has been running the ‘Max Express’ to and from Zandvoort so far this weekend, with some 50,000 travelling to and from the track by rail on Friday.
Saturday morning has not gone so smoothly, with numerous train delays and cancellations causing chaos at the jam-packed station as they’re announced to fans at the station.
GPBlog report that multiple trains have been filled up with orange-clad fans only to be completely emptied and the fans redirected, by staff who ‘have no idea how to handle the massive influx of spectators’.
SPRINT RESULTS: Full times and finishing positions from Zandvoort
Verstappen fans hoping for sprint race miracle
This Saturday looked to be more of a logistical challenge than the same day at last year’s event thanks to the presence of a sprint race at noon local time, meaning that many more fans are streaming toward the track trying to get a look at some racing action compared to last year’s FP3 session at the same time.
Some of those will be disappointed – but perhaps, on balance, not as disappointed as some Dutch fans who actually end up watching the 24-lap race.
Home hero Max Verstappen will start down in sixth place after another tricky Friday, struggling for pace and handling while complaining once again about trouble with his downshifts.
The Red Bull star will be sandwiched on the grid by the top two drivers in the championship coming into the weekend, with Kimi Antonelli ahead in fifth and Lewis Hamilton behind him in seventh after a rough sprint qualifying session.
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