There’s rain on the radar in Zandvoort throughout the weekend, with showers possible during F1 Academy’s qualifying and both races. Feeder Series asked Rafaela Ferreira, Emma Felbermayr and Esmee Kosterman how they felt about the weather forecast as they prepare for their first races at Zandvoort in F1 Academy cars. 

By Calla Kra-Caskey

Last year, a torrential downpour hit the Zandvoort circuit on Saturday. F1 Academy qualifying proceeded in the wet, but by the evening the rain and wind was deemed too severe, and race one originally scheduled for Saturday was postponed until the next morning. 

This year, the second race in Miami was postponed after several laps under safety car proved the track was too wet to drive. It was rescheduled to Montréal, where it was won by Doriane Pin. 

This weekend’s forecast – with a 50 per cent chance of rain during Saturday’s qualifying session and a near 70 per cent chance for Sunday’s race – along with the series’ past hesitancy around wet weather means there could be another postponement. The drivers have mixed feelings about racing in the wet. 

“To be honest, I think I am excited to race in the rain,” Ferreira told Feeder Series in a pre-event media roundtable. “We did some tests in the rain. I think Miami doesn’t count like a wet race, but it was really nice.”

Ferreira, who represents Racing Bulls and drives for Campos Racing, has no lack of experience in the wet after two seasons of Brazilian F4.

“It can change a lot the race,” she added. “Mainly here in Zandvoort, we don’t have a lot of room to overtake, and to have a race in the rain can change a lot of the situation. And I think to be ready for us now, we don’t have a lot to do – just to watch the videos from last year here in the rain. That’s it.”

Some rain could definitely help Ferreira, who has had a difficult season and is looking for her fourth points-scoring finish. Her best qualifying result of seventh came during the rain-affected Miami session, although positions were heavily affected by the order in which drivers went out on track. 

Felbermayr, who took her first single-seater victory in Montréal, is hoping it stays dry. 

“The general weather forecast is pretty unpredictable this weekend, so it’s difficult for everyone. It’s the same for everyone,” she said. 

“Of course, Zandvoort is especially an even harder track to race in the rain, I’d say, compared to others.… There are some unique corners here. Some are high grippy; some are low grippy. And so you also need maybe to change your driving style in between the lap.

“I think from last year, we have good data to prepare ourselves if it comes to the rain,” Felbermayr added. Her team, Rodin Motorsport, fielded last year’s polesitter. 

“But yeah, personally, I hope it stays dry.” 

Felbermayr and Kosterman both participated in the British F4 Zandvoort round last month ahead of the F1 Academy event. Kosterman joins the series for the first time as this weekend’s wild card. 

“For me, I drove three races this year in British F4, and all three were not raining,” the Hitech driver said.  “So I never drove in the rain with a single-seater.”

Kosterman made her single-seater debut in Indian F4 last year, taking a best result of ninth across four races. This year she drove in three championship rounds of British F4, including in Zandvoort last month, as well as the non-championship round at the British Grand Prix. Her best result of 11th came in her first race, while her best result in Zandvoort was 17th. 

“I hope it’s going to rain because I’m from the Netherlands and I like rain. But I know it’s a very grippy circuit, especially in the rain, so you can still drive the good line,” Kosterman said. 

“Let’s see what kind of weather conditions it’s going to be, but I like it when it’s going to be raining or when it’s not.”

Additional reporting by Francesca Brusa

Header photo credit: Red Bull Content Pool