Rain at Zandvoort provides fresh Dutch GP twist

Rain is falling at Zandvoort with just over 40 minutes before lights out for the final Dutch Grand Prix, throwing a significant spanner in the works.

The adverse weather was expected to pass by the circuit situated in the sand dunes of North Holland, but precipitation is now coming down as the teams and drivers make their final preparations for the 72-lap race.

Canopies have been put up on the grid. Although radars suggest the rain will abate with around 15 minutes to go, it nonetheless presents a strategic curveball.

On Sky Sports F1 coverage, Natalie Pinkham commented that it was "tipping it down", with Harry Benjamin adding that it was "pouring".

Meanwhile, Anthony Davidson has said that the current conditions lean towards starting on the green-walled intermediate tyres.

F1 has yet to see the new generation of cars take on inclement weather in race trim, adding considerable jeopardy to the proceedings.

Oliver Bearman radioed Haas to confirm that the current conditions are "too wet" for dry-weather tyres, and Liam Lawson had a brief off onto the gravel approaching the final corner.

Kimi Antonelli has said it is not wet across the first half of the lap, but that the opposite is true for the rest of the track, making the situation particularly treacherous.