After four successful runs of the Dutch Grand Prix, the organisers plan to end the event on a high note. The final edition of Formula 1 in Zandvoort will take place in 2026.
Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort comes to an end
The organisers of the Dutch Grand Prix announced that they would not be renewing their contract with Formula One Management (FOM) past 2026. “We have decided to say goodbye on a good note with two more fantastic Dutch Grand Prix in 2025 and 2026,” said Robert van Overdijk, director of the Dutch Grand Prix organisation in a statement. “We wanted to take this step at our peak with the appreciation of the passionate fans and the entire Formula 1 community.”
The main reason behind the decision is the financial risk as the event is privately financed. "We are the only Grand Prix alongside British Silverstone that has to survive without government support." According to Van Overdijk, to keep the event profitable and running smoothly, each race weekend needs to have three sold-out days. “That line is thin. A one-off dip is not so bad, but we cannot afford to structurally attract fewer visitors,” he told NOS.
Emphasising that the end of the Grand Prix in Zandvoort is not a ploy to gain funding from the government or otherwise, Van Overdijk maintains that “we are stopping for good.”
Final Dutch Grand Prix will be one to remember
With Max Verstappen being one of the driving forces behind the revival of the Dutch Grand Prix, the organisation wants to end with a bang while the Dutch sports hero is at his peak. "Max now has four world titles. He has won Zandvoort three times,” said Van Overdijk. “You can of course wait for a moment when the enthusiasm wanes, but that does not suit us."
The last edition of the Dutch Grand Prix will not only be special because it is the final one, but also because it will be the first and only time that an F1 Sprint race is held in Zandvoort. “We're going out with a bang. Of course, it also gives a wistful feeling, but most of all we're proud," said Van Overdijk. When exactly the final edition in the Netherlands will take place is not yet known, but will be announced in the course of the next year.
Thumb image credit: kivnl / Shutterstock.com