Zandvoort rewards the front row more than most. The lap is narrow, the corners run into one another, and clean air is worth a great deal, so qualifying pace and a tidy first lap usually shape the result. Weather is the wildcard: coastal systems can arrive quickly, and a damp session here scrambles the order more thoroughly than at almost any other European venue. The banked corners load the tyres, making degradation and one-versus-two-stop calls a live question. Barriers sit close, so safety cars are a real possibility and can hand the race to whoever pitted last. Favour drivers with strong single-lap pace and calm hands in changeable conditions.