Why Zandvoort is saying goodbye to Formula 1 with ‘no regrets’

Next weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort will carry extra weight, as the historic circuit edges closer to the end of its time on the Formula 1 calendar. While the race will remain until 2026, the looming farewell is already shaping the atmosphere around the event.

After a triumphant return to the F1 calendar in 2021 that followed heavy investments to upgrade its track and installations, Zandvoort opted last year to extend its current contract with Formula One Management by just a single year.

While there were discussions about various scenarios, including a rotational system with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, the Dutch organizers elected for a definitive end, a decision that has stirred mixed emotions in the motorsport world.

When asked if the upcoming race feels special, van Overdijk admits the week still feels like business as usual.

“I don’t think so yet. If you ask me this next year, I’ll say absolutely yes,” he told Dutch website RacingNews365.

“The final edition will, I think, maybe evoke the same emotions in a different way as the very first edition. Of course, we all know that this event is so big in the Netherlands.

“But if we soon stop after 2026, Formula 1 will shift its focus back to other continents. Everyone senses that next year will be a very special one. After that it won’t come back to the Netherlands for years. And maybe never again.”

FOM’s Reaction and Financial Realities

Zandvoort’s decision to drop off the calendar came after months of negotiations between the Dutch Grand Prix organisers and Formula 1, and was met with disappointment by the latter’s leadership.

“Initially – and this also made us proud – [they felt] disappointment that we made this decision,” he said. “But from their side there was also understanding why we took this decision.

“They know better than anyone else, of course, that we, along with Silverstone, are the only Grand Prix that has to do without a single euro of subsidy.”

Despite the financial pressures, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has consistently praised Zandvoort for setting new standards in how races are organized.

“They find it unfortunate, because of course Stefano Domenicali in particular has been shouting in recent years that we have set a new benchmark in the world of Formula 1,” van Overdijk said. “We are also proud of that.

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“And on the other hand, he knows that we have to make do with three small parties: Circuit Zandvoort, TIG Sports and SportVibes. We are simply on the hook for this mega-event at our own expense and risk.

“Those risks stop sometime, so there is also a lot of understanding from them. We still work great together and we both know that we still have to turn the last two editions into very fantastic ones.”

Looking Ahead Without Regret

While Formula 1 – and its Dutch fan base – lament the loss of a beloved track, van Overdijk stands firm in the circuit’s choice to step away, expressing no regrets about the pivotal move.

“No, that thought process and those discussions about whether or not to continue, we have of course completed that trajectory,” he stated.

“That didn’t go without a fight, so it was just a clear choice. And from the moment you’ve made that choice, you’re just looking forward.”

With two Dutch Grands Prix left to run, Zandvoort’s focus is on delivering a memorable farewell, ensuring its final contribution to Formula 1 matches the passion and spectacle it has become known for.

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