The Top 6 Are Closer Than You Think... | 2026 Dutch GP Preview

It could be the last-ever Dutch Grand Prix, and Max Verstappen's final home race. Tom & Chris preview a potentially wet, sprint-format Zandvoort, plus Cadillac's shock team-boss change and a top 6 separated by just nine points over the last 4 Grand Prix.

In this episode: why Cadillac swapped Graeme Lowdon for Marcin Budkowski mid-season, whether McLaren's Hungary upgrade travels, the incredibly tight top-six title fight of recent races, Aston Martin & Honda's new engine, silly-season latest, our sprint-weekend predictions, and a mailbag on sim racing and ghost cars.

Chapters
0:00 – Intro: first race back
1:46 – Cadillac's shock team-boss change
13:24 – Dutch GP preview: Zandvoort's farewell
17:01 – McLaren, Ferrari & a title race in nine points
21:45 – Aston Martin & Honda's engine gamble
23:38 – Silly season & Max's last home race
25:35 – Predictions
30:28 – Mailbag: sim racing, ghost cars & deltas
39:46 – Wrap-up

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Back of the Grid is a weekly F1 podcast by fans, for fans, with Tom & Chris. New episodes every Tuesday.

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