Red Bull Motorsports
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The end of an era: What the final Dutch GP means for Verstappen
At the last orange party at Zandvoort, Max Verstappen faces an emotional home farewell. Here’s why the Dutch GP has been so important to Max and fans over the years, and why it’s leaving the calendar.
The Dutch Grand Prix is leaving the Formula One calendar, having been a fan favourite track that’s provided brilliant moments for Dutch fans of the sport. As Max Verstappen’s home race, it’s also been an important chance for him to perform for his own fans. With the event making its sprint race debut, this year will see the GP go out on a high.
“An iconic Grand Prix. Unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime,” Oracle Red Bull Racing’s driver posted on his personal Instagram. As his home event, it’s been an important point in the calendar in recent years.
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Why is the Dutch GP important to Max Verstappen?
Speaking to racingnews365, the Dutchman explained how he’s going to miss the Formula One event, but that he’s still planning to race around the track away from the sport. “It’s my home grand prix, so for sure I’m going to enjoy it a lot. It’s going to be great to see the fans,” he said. It’s important for him to see his fans, who always pack out the stands throughout the weekend. The Austrian GP is Oracle Red Bull Racing’s home, but his own personal home race has been at Zandvoort for the past six seasons.
Max Verstappen will wave goodbye to Zandvoort this season
© Mark Thompson/Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
He also praised the event’s ability to “host and entertain” in a way that was a great example to other events. He won’t be able to have the same intimate connection with Dutch F1 fans, but he “just wants to enjoy it with the fans” for the final time.
It’s a shame, but… I’m sure I will do more laps around there
He went on to insist that 2026’s Dutch GP isn’t the last he’ll see of the track. “It’s a shame, but… I’m sure I will do more laps around there. There are a lot of other series that still race there… the track is not going to disappear.” Fans will have to keep an eye on the driver’s participation away from Formula One to see more of him on the iconic track.
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Why is the Dutch GP a special race for fans?
As Verstappen alluded to, the Dutch Grand Prix has been a special one since his debut at the event in 2021. The event first ran as part of the Formula One World Championship in 1952, before leaving the track rotation after the 1985 season. Thirty-six years later, in 2021, it returned to the calendar.
It's always a festival atmosphere at Zandvoort
© Joe Portlock/Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
Fans love the festival atmosphere, and the fact that it’s right by the sea. With the majority of fans in attendance supporting Oracle Red Bull Racing’s driver, who has performed well at the track throughout his career, it’s often a celebratory place. When Verstappen’s had positive results, the area surrounding the track turned into a big party, with fans wearing orange packing the seaside streets in celebration. With its removal from the calendar, the Dutch fans won’t play such a big role in future seasons.
The driver and Oracle Red Bull Racing are taking the opportunity to celebrate the final race with a special race suit and helmet designs for their drivers. As revealed on Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Instagram, Verstappen will wear a darker suit, and a helmet with a blue and white design that draws inspiration from Delft, the canal city in the south of the Netherlands.
This season’s race is shaping up to be an exciting one, too. For the first time ever, it’s going to host a sprint race on Saturday, giving fans even more racing to cheer on and the drivers an additional chance to win points. The weather forecast also predicts rain for all three days of the event, which could cause chaos.
It's set to be an action-packed final race this year
© Zak Mauger/LAT Images/Red Bull Content Pool
Zandvoort blends high-speed corners and severe banking, and the weather is also unpredictable. Rain, wind and intense heat have been present in the past five years, so fans never know what to expect. With a sprint race added to the mix, 2026’s Grand Prix will have the most action the track has seen.
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Why is this the last time the race will run at Zandvoort?
The Dutch GP’s removal from the Formula One calendar is a decision made by the event’s own organisers. Robert van Overdijk, Director of the event, said on SpeedWeek: “We have, without a doubt, written a success story. But we are a privately funded race, and we had to carefully weigh up the risks and responsibilities. For this reason, we have decided to stop in 2026.”
Talks had taken place with the sport's organisers over plans to have Zandvoort rotate in the calendar with other European tracks, but that didn’t work economically for the Dutch GP. As a private event, the organisers need to be confident that costs do not outweigh income brought by the event. As they weren’t able to do so, the decision was taken not to renew the contract.
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How long has Zandvoort been on the schedule and how has Verstappen performed?
Max Verstappen has won his home race three times
© Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
Max Verstappen won the first three of his races at Zandvoort (2021, 2022 and 2023). He’s the first driver to win three Dutch Grands Prix in a row since Jim Clark won three in a row between 1963 and 1965. While Clark has the most wins at Zandvoort, with four, the track is also famous for being the location of James Hunt’s first-ever win in Formula One.
In the past two years, Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Dutch driver has also finished second both times. Therefore, he’s never had a lower finish than the top two steps on the podium. After a second-place finish in Hungary this year, the last race before the summer break, he’ll be looking to continue his improved form and sign off in style at the Dutch Grand Prix..
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