Goodbye Zandvoort: A windblown seaside circuit from another era, said farewell to Formula One and the Dutch Grand Prix today with a party of pride, celebration and sadness. The track in the North Sea coastal dunes, with an Orange Army of tens of thousands of Max Verstappen fans packing the grandstands and partying in the streets late into the evening, has hosted one of the liveliest races on the calendar since it returned in 2021 after a 36-year absence. The farewell has been some time in the planning, local organisers announcing in 2024 that they would go out on a high in 2026 when the contract ended after weighing up the financial risks.
Even if I would not be Dutch, you know, to drive here would have been always amazing. And, of course, for me being Dutch, it made it that extra bit special.” Zandvoort first hosted a round of the championship in 1952, two years after the first season, and this year’s race is the 36th Dutch Grand Prix. The narrow and twisty track, with 14 corners, is the second shortest after Monaco and features evocative corners such as Tarzan, which according to lore was the nickname of a local man who exchanged his vegetable garden for the naming rights, and the banked Hugenholtz.
It’s definitely very rewarding if you get it right … it’s proper old-school driving. It’s definitely one of the best tracks on the calendar compared to some tracks that we go to now that … I’m not going to name names, but they lack a bit of character,” said Verstappen. McLaren’s world champion Lando Norris, who has a Belgian mother and can also count on strong local support and who won from pole in 2024, said he was disappointed to see the circuit go with its throbbing techno beat and high-energy DJs.
Although most of them are here for one driver, it’s still always just a fun event, good atmosphere, good passion, and that’s what you want,” said Norris, on pole again this year. So, this is definitely up there and a lot better than a lot of the races we have on the calendar even currently. I think if it was a driver’s choice, we would probably like to keep it in.” Zandvoort is a rare circuit as one that has never seen a Lewis Hamilton Formula One victory but the seven-time world champion has fond memories from success in his junior career.
Very special, particularly for Max as he has the incredible support through the weekend, but they really create the atmosphere.”
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