Verstappen: Line through Zandvoort's banked corners depends on tyre wear

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing star Max Verstappen thinks there are several lines drivers will be taking through the banked corners at Zandvoort depending on tyre wear.

Verstappen was the first F1 driver to have a crack at the newly surfaced Zandvoort earlier this week, lapping the beach-side circuit in the championship-winning RB8 from 2012.

The Dutchman attacked the famous banked corners at turn 3 and turn 14, with the latter being the final turn on the circuit leading onto the main straight. After jumping out of the car, the 22-year-old analysed that final turn, the Arie Luyendyk turn, and how it will likely be attacked in different ways during the Dutch Grand Prix in early May.

“I have always found it a super circuit to drive, but the banking definitely adds a new dimension to it,” the eight-time Grand Prix winner was quoted by Motorsport.com.

“I think you can drive different lines through those banked corners, so that's a good thing. It has to do with the tyres as well.

“On new tyres you can take a shorter line. But on older tyres, you have to make sure you have a good exit, so you might have to stay a bit higher in that final corner.”

While turn 3, the Hugenholtz turn, is a slow banked corner, the Arie Luyendyk corner at turn 14 is flat-out. Verstappen reckons it won't be an easy turn to tackle, however, as it bleeds into the main straight and requires some tactical nouse to get exactly right.

“Everyone thinks 'oh it's flat-out anyway, so it's quite easy', but you have to take the DRS and all the forces released by the banking into account as well. So all in all I think it's a pretty challenging corner.”

Verstappen's first-ever home Grand Prix will be held on May the 3rd, with a month-long gap preceding it due to the postponement of the Chinese Grand Prix.