Dune and dusted - F1 drivers mourn "old school" Zandvoort loss

As little as 10 years ago, few could have predicted Formula 1 would ever return to the cramped, old school Zandvoort circuit. But having enjoyed an annual invitation to Max Verstappen's popular house party since 2021, his peers are now sad to bid farewell to the Dutch dunes.

This weekend, Zandvoort is hosting its sixth Dutch Grand Prix in the modern era after Verstappen's unprecedented popularity and success revived a race that was long thought to be consigned to history.

On a calendar that has gradually expanded to include more street circuits in urban centres, a return to the 4.259km blast through the North Sea dunes was a welcome change of scenery for the majority of F1's driver corps.

Beyond its sand-swept setting, it's tough to mistake Zandvoort for any other circuit on the calendar with its undulating nature and cambered corners. Drivers generally opt for a uniquely wide line around the outside of the Hugenholtzbocht - or Turn 3 for those less linguistically adventurous - while Scheivlak is an ultra-fast, high commitment challenge. Its narrow escape area is not so much a runoff as it is an embankment. A wall of gravel looming large as drivers whip their cars around the far side of the circuit.

The final corner, named after Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendyk, is aptly banked to make it a flat-out blast and extend what is otherwise a relatively short front straight.

That rollercoaster ride will now be abandoned after this weekend's event, with Zandvoort deciding against extending its expiring deal with F1 management. Unlike most other grand prix hosts, local organisers cannot count on any government support to absorb the financial risk involved. And with the popularity of F1 seemingly saturated in the Netherlands, they decided to play it safe and call it quits while they're ahead, news that was received with some sadness by F1's drivers.

"It will be a shame," McLaren's Oscar Piastri replied when asked by Motorsport.com about Zandvoort's exit, the Australian being last year's winner of the event. "As a circuit to drive on, it's one of the best we have all year. Admittedly, as a circuit to race on, it's maybe not the most exciting and even just logistically, it is pretty small for F1.

"There's obviously a balance to strike. There are so many different countries that want to host an F1 race. For us as drivers, all the historical circuits are probably the most enjoyable to race on.

"If you're to replace it with Imola or with Spa in the future, then I'm pretty happy with that. But if it's for potentially another street circuit that's maybe not the best, then there's a sweet spot to find. But it'll be missed because it's a cool place."

Team-mate Lando Norris added: "I'm pretty disappointed because I like just the event itself, the fans. 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. It's a shame and hopefully it comes back one day."

Audi veteran Nico Hulkenberg, who won at Zandvoort in 2006 in the long defunct A1GP series, also praised the circuit's rowdy atmosphere: "I've raced here a lot in junior times and the atmosphere is a bit like in a club. It's like a real festival kind of character and I loved it here the last couple of years. So, I'm going to miss it."

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll said the high risk-reward factor of Zandvoort's limited runoff areas added to the challenge: "I think it is just one of those old school tracks. We go to a lot of modern circuits with runoff. You lose some of that character of what it feels like to just drive an old school track.

"Here, it is still one of those places with gravel and grass. If you go and put a wheel off, you are in trouble. That is what makes it special."

The circuit is a relic of days gone by, and that cuts both ways. Drivers enjoy its undulating nature, fast corners and narrow, unforgiving nature. But that also means the circuit is too cramped for modern F1 cars to put on a compelling show.

That's not the circuit's fault, but there is a reason only an unprecedented swell of interest in a national hero has made the miraculous Dutch GP possible in the first place.

The four-time world champion won his home race three consecutive times, including an electric 2021 edition that came at the height of his tense title fight with Lewis Hamilton.

Having seen McLaren steal his thunder in recent years, Verstappen looks unlikely to pose a win threat in 2026 either, but he was still grateful for the experience of racing in front of 100,000 passionate fans for six straight years.

"The history around here, a big amount of fans that love motorsport, and the track is a cool layout," Verstappen summed up his love affair with Zandvoort. "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 lack a bit of character. It's definitely going to be missed, for sure. It's always been really fun to drive.

"Even if I would not be Dutch, to drive here would have been always amazing. But being Dutch, it made it that extra bit special."

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.