Riding the wave of interest surrounding Max Verstappen since his debut in 2015, Zandvoort underwent significant changes and investment to get back up to F1 standards before hosting his first grand prix last year, his return delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
An initial three-year deal has been signed from 2020, with the delay pushing it to expire until after the 2023 run, but talks are ongoing over signing an extension.
F1 announced early Thursday that it had finalized a deal with Zandvoort to remain on the calendar for the next three years, with the deal running until the end of 2025.
The Dutch Grand Prix first staged an F1 world championship round in 1952 and was a mainstay on the calendar until 1985 before disappearing from the calendar.
The track became best known for European-level events, including the Formula 3 Masters meeting, before efforts to bring it up to F1 standards intensified after Verstappen’s debut.
Zandvoort has received praise from across the F1 paddock for its approach to hosting the Grand Prix, ensuring the fan experience is complemented by plenty of off-track events, as well as ease of access for those attending. in the race.
In May, Alfa Romeo F1 chief Frederic Vasseur said he thought Zandvoort marked a “big change” for F1, focusing on “not just the show, but everything else around the grand prix”. .
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari F1-75
Photo by: Ferrari
A sold-out crowd of 100,000 fans attended this year’s race as Max Verstappen secured a home win after a tight challenge from Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton.
But race organizers were forced to remove several fans from the circuit for their use of flares, which were banned from being brought onto the track.
Qualifying had to be red flagged at one point due to a flare being thrown onto the track, while a second was thrown during Q3 before rolling under the pit wall.
Verstappen condemned the “dumb” and “dumb” use of flares, while Mercedes chief Toto Wolff said it was disappointing that a few “absolute idiots” had spoiled an otherwise electric atmosphere.
“The atmosphere is great here,” Wolff said. “The enthusiasm for Max has ignited the whole country and it’s perfect to see. My experiences are positive with the fans.
