Is it going to rain at the Dutch Grand Prix? Wet weather hits before Zandvoort start
What's the weather going to do at the F1 Dutch Grand Prix this weekend?
Remarkably, Formula 1 is still yet to have its first collective session in the rain with the new regulation 2026 cars.
The topic of wet running has been a recurring one during this season, with rain threatening to hit at several races before ultimately coming to nothing.
The Miami Grand Prix was moved forward by three hours to avoid thunderstorms but despite concerns, the race was held in fully dry conditions.
How to watch F1 2026 Dutch Grand Prix as Zandvoort bids farewell
As well as Miami, Canada was also declared a Rain Hazard race, though it ultimately ended up being dry throughout. F1 sessions also avoided rain that fell during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend.
F1 has faced the highly unusual scenario that 11 race weekends have come and gone without a single session taking place in wet conditions.
Other than a few teams getting some wet weather running during the pre-season shakedown in Barcelona, the majority have yet to experience the 2026 rules when it rains.
What is the Dutch Grand Prix weather forecast?
F1 2026 Dutch Grand Prix: Zandvoort start time and schedule
If forecasts are to be believed, F1 could get its first collective wet session of the season at this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.
After a flurry of races that have taken place during several heatwaves throughout Europe, the weather at the North Sea coast holiday town of Zandvoort is set to be much cooler and unsettled.
BBC Weather predicted a small chance of thundery rain showers on Friday, which did materialise, although only in the morning, with the track having dried almost completely ahead of FP1.
Rain was most likely to hit on Saturday, with a 60 percent chance of rain forecast in the morning ahead of the sprint race. This rain did arrive, but only on the cooldown lap after the chequered flag had fallen. Just two minutes earlier, and the heavy rain would have caused a chaotic final tour.
Sunday was set to be dry and sunny, with a temperature of 17 degrees forecast when the race starts at 3pm local time (2pm UK). However, recent reports have upped the chance of rain from 0% to an admittedly low 13% as the lights go out, but this figure steadily increases to 42% throughout the afternoon.
With less than an hour before lights out, rain has hit the circuit, forcing teams to erect their gazebos on the grid. Whether it will stay wet by the time the race starts remains to be seen.
Rain caused chaos at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix. A rain shower hit on the first lap, leading to split strategies. The track dried up, only for another deluge to hit in the closing stages, causing more drama.
Home hero Max Verstappen kept his cool and overcame the weather to convert pole position into victory at Zandvoort for the third year in a row.
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