- Max Verstappen is looking to win the Dutch Grand Prix for the third consecutive year
- Fernando Alonso has earned six podium finishes this season 
- Recommended bets: 
- Fernando Alonso podium finish 
- George Russell top-six finish

Formula 1 returns from the mid-summer break with Max Verstappen closing in very quickly on a third successive Formula 1 World Championship title.

The Dutch ace made light work of a sixth-place starting position to cruise to victory in the Belgian Grand Prix last time out, and extend his already significant lead in the standings to 125 points.

With 10 races left in the season, time is fast running out for the grid to somehow close the gap on the runaway leader and stop the defending champion from securing another title.

Tough to stop Verstappen's title charge

Winning 10 of the first 12 races of the 2023 Formula 1 season, there looks to be no stopping Red Bull's Max Verstappen on his way to the Drivers' Championship.

Currently ahead on 314 points, with team-mate Sergio Perez second in the standings, Dutchman Verstappen boasts a comfortable lead before his return to his homeland this week.

Since racing returned to the Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort in 2021, Verstappen has revelled in having the home crowd behind him.

Winning the last two races at the Dutch Grand Prix in 2021 and 2022, the 25-year-old is looking to make it a hat-trick of successes in his home race.

Given his current form, it will take either a technical issue or a miraculous race from one of his rivals to deny Verstappen taking the chequered flag on Sunday. 

He is a strong and worthy favourite at 2/9 with LiveScore Bet to win the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend.

Alonso can get back on the podium

Fernando Alonso was rolling back the years at the start of the 2023 season with four podium finishes in the first five races of the campaign.

Finishing third at the Bahrain, Saudi Arabian, Australian and Miami Grand Prix, Alonso looked like we would comfortably be the best of the rest behind Verstappen and Perez in the Drivers' Championship.

Two second-place finishes in Monaco and Canada were further evidence of Alonso's speed in his new surroundings at Aston Martin but the two-time world champion has fallen slightly off the pace of late.

It has allowed Mercedes ace Lewis Hamilton to climb up the standings and challenge for that third spot in the Drivers' Championship with one point now separating the Spaniard and the fourth-placed Briton.

Alonso has shown what he can do in his Aston Martin this season and the veteran looks capable of getting back on the podium this weekend.

Back Fernando Alonso to finish in a podium position at 5/1 with LiveScore Bet.

Russell can build on last year's promise

With not much form to look back on when it comes to the Dutch Grand Prix, much of the focus will be on how the drivers fared last season.

In that regard, Mercedes George Russell impressed in 2022 as he finished second behind Verstappen on the podium.

The Englishman clearly enjoyed his run around the track at Circuit Zandvoort and it seems to be a course that suits the 25-year-old.

With only one podium finish to his name this season, Russell has not reached the same heights as last year, when he did manage to secure his first race win at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

A top-six finish though is well within his grasp this weekend in the Netherlands.

Back George Russell to secure a top-six finish with LiveScore Bet.