THE STRATEGIST: Rain, red flags and confusion – how do the teams plan for a race like Sunday's Dutch GP?

The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort is always a hectic race for the strategists. The quick 70-second lap time, difficulty in overtaking and high tyre degradation all come with challenges. Since its return to the calendar in 2021, the race has been a sunny affair, but not so this year as a host of new challenges were thrown at the teams and drivers.
Before the weekend began, Zandvoort was expected to be a two-stop race, but with the variable rain conditions the drivers ended up stopping between four and seven times. So how do you set strategy for a wet race – and react to constantly changing conditions, Safety Car restarts and red flags? Former Aston Martin strategist Bernie Collins explains what it’s like for those on the pit wall…
Next Up
Related Articles
Beyond The GridToto Wolff and Hywel Thomas on Mercedes’ 2026 prospects
‘I have achieved my dream, that little boy's dream’ – Norris
F1 AcademyFerrari sign Larsen for 2026 F1 ACADEMY campaign
TremayneWhy ‘true racer’ Marko will be missed as he leaves Red Bull
Tsunoda's best moments in F1 as he departs the grid
Power RankingsWho dazzled our judges at the finale in Abu Dhabi?
