F1 drivers facing 'dangerous' Zandvoort as weather warning issued

F1 drivers are looking at a major challenge on Friday at the Dutch Grand Prix after a weather warning for the day was issued.

The northern coastal points of the Netherlands have received a code yellow warning with severe gusts expected in the area.

These gusts have the potential to reach up to 85 km/h around the Circuit Zandvoort which could cause drivers significant problems behind the wheel.

F1 cars are known to be highly sensitive to the wind - with McLaren's Lando Norris insisting a high-speed gust around a fast corner could create a “dangerous” situation.

“It’s a lot trickier than people think,” Norris told media including RacingNews365 when asked how hard it is to drive in windy conditions. 

“Even when it's 20-25km/h, it is already a lot. Even when there's no wind to 10km/h, you notice the difference.

“When it's just a constant 25km/h, you notice a big difference. But it's meant to be 40, 50, 60, 70, 80km/h - I've never experienced something like that.

“Obviously it can be quite dangerous, because if you go into a corner at a certain speed, like Turn 7, and you have a 60, 70, 80km/h wind, that changes the car. There's nothing you can do as a driver. You're going to be in the gravel or in the wall.”

Leclerc suggests practice disruptions could occur

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc suggested on-track running could be impacted if the forecast comes to fruition.

“I don't think there are any cars that are designed for the wind we have forecasted for tomorrow,” he said. “I think it's up to 80km/h. I'm not sure there will be many cars on track in case it's that way.

“I think for Saturday and Sunday, it calms down, but it still remains extremely high wind.”

However, those points of view were refuted by Stake's Zhou Guanyu who does not expect the cars to become undrivable during Friday practice.

“I did a track walk, it's not like the whole track, but it is quite true, like the main straight and also the back straight, where both DRS detections are, it's super windy,” he said.

“[Friday] is another, I don't know, 15, 20 km/h more. So I don't think it's undriveable, but it just makes the car, the track condition a bit more unpredictable. 

“Hopefully [it will] stay dry tomorrow and then that will make things settle down. 

“I don't think it's the first time that we have such windy conditions, so I think all the drivers should be fine. I don't think it's too unsafe to drive.”