Five things to know ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix

Circuit Zandvoort hosts Formula 1's return after the summer break for the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix this weekend.

It's a classic track, first featuring in the championship in 1952, and the circuit's return in 2021 showcased its old-school nature, with flowing, undulating corners coming thick and fast.

Whether you remember the grands prix from old or your first taste of racing in the Netherlands is more recent, we've collated five things to know about the Dutch Grand Prix.

Of all the sweeping corners Zandvoort hosts, the Hugenholtzbocht left-hander stands out from the other 13 turns around the 4.259 km course.

Its incredibly steep banking at 18.7 degrees flings drivers around on the run to Turn 4, and its name honours the Dutch track designer John Hugenholtz.

Although Hugenholtz was Zandvoort's director for multiple decades, his involvement in the circuit's layout was relatively limited thanks to pre-existing roads creating much of the course.

However, Hugenholtz's career saw him design several other classic F1 venues, including Suzuka, 10-time F1 circuit Zolder, and Hockenheim's stadium section, among others, before tragically dying in 1995 as a consequence of injuries from a car crash at Zandvoort.

Williams Racing's first Formula 1 world champion Alan Jones won the 1979 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort to cap his only run of three consecutive race victories in a stellar career.

Alan found his first taste of success for Williams Racing one month earlier at the Hockenheimring, leading a 1-2 finish for us ahead of Clay Regazzoni in the sister FW07.

Austria came two weeks later, where Alan triumphed with a mighty 36-second gap before taking a third successive victory at Zandvoort, lapping every driver that wasn't on the podium.

Zandvoort's coastal location makes it popular for millions of tourists annually to find some seaside sun and fun.

Although Formula 1 fans are likely most interested in the circuit, those who don't revel in racing can enjoy the beach, surfing, cycling, hiking, concerts, restaurants, and museums.

A journey time of 30 minutes between Zandvoort aan Zee and Amsterdam Centraal stations means it's an ideal day trip from the country's capital whenever the temperature rises on a sunny day.

We travel to many iconic locations, but nowhere else has a nine-mile stretch of golden sand beaches right next to the track.

Formula 1 fans are familiar with the Drag Reduction System, ordinarily initialised to DRS — the rule allowing following cars to open a flap on their rear wing down some straights.

Zandvoort is a corner-filled rollercoaster that still manages to fit two DRS zones within its 14 turns, but the latter is unusual thanks to its starting location before Turn 14.

The final corner, Luyendykbocht, is one of three heavily banked turns, and drivers can tackle it flat-out without much trouble with the aerodynamics of a modern F1 car.

2021, the Dutch GP's first year back, had the DRS zone start on the pit straight, but the ease with which the drivers handled Luyendykbocht allowed an extension before the corner to aid overtaking into Turn 1 and creating the rare sight of cars cornering with their DRS flaps open.

Alex Albon's sole F1 predecessor to race under the Thai flag is a race winner at Circuit Zandvoort from before the F1 World Championship even existed.

Prince Bira contested the 1948 Zandvoort Grand Prix, a 40-lap race that followed two 24-lap heats, and secured pole position for Heat 2.

In the race, Prince Bira's Maserati 4CL suffered from engine issues that forced the Thai driver to avoid racing to the absolute limit, but he still took the lead early on from a P4 starting position.

Prince Bira endured pressure from Tony Rolt's Alfa Romeo in second place throughout, and the two crossed the finish line with just one car length separating them.

The official classification put just 0.1s between each car and reports detail Bira's engine roaring over the line as he didn't dare risk changing gears to avoid momentum.