The 2026 Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort will be the final event for the circuit. This decision follows a one-year contract extension announced in late 2024, which secured Zandvoort’s place on the Formula 1 calendar through the current season. The promoter, DGP Race BV, opted not to pursue further extensions, citing the need to balance opportunities against operational risks and responsibilities.
The Dutch Grand Prix returned to the Formula 1 calendar in 2021 after a 36-year absence. Its revival was significantly boosted by the rise of four-time World Champion Max Verstappen. Verstappen secured victories at his home race in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Tim Coronel, a Dutch driver and analyst, expressed the emotional impact of the upcoming final race. He noted that the first time Verstappen won at Zandvoort, spectators were ‘just crying’ for the sport and the surrounding atmosphere.
‘The first time that Max on Zandvoort won, we were just crying. Not for Max, but for the sport and for everything that happens around it. I always get goosebumps and tears. That is a way of life for us. We live for the sport.’
Coronel highlighted the event’s success in setting a new standard for Formula 1 festivals, combining racing with national pride and unity. The event has consistently drawn large crowds, with 305,000 fans attending the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix weekend.
This figure has been consistent for four years, with the exception of 2021 when COVID-19 restrictions limited attendance to 195,000. The circuit, originally opened in 1948, has a rich history in Formula 1, hosting its first official Grand Prix in 1952.
Despite its popularity, financial hurdles, rising costs, and a proposed increase in VAT on event tickets by the Dutch government contributed to the promoter’s decision. Robert van Overdijk, Director of the Dutch Grand Prix, stated the intention was to ‘go out on a high.’
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali thanked the Dutch Grand Prix team for their work, acknowledging their high standards for event spectacle and sustainable solutions. The 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, scheduled for August 21-23, will feature a Sprint race for the first time at Zandvoort.
This marks a new element for the circuit’s final Formula 1 event. Weekend tickets for the 2026 race are already sold out. Verstappen’s 2026 season with Red Bull has presented challenges. As of the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 26, he sits P6 in the Drivers’ Championship with 109 points.
He has secured four podium finishes but no wins so far this season. Red Bull’s technical director Pierre Waché indicated in February 2026 that the team considered their car to be the fourth-fastest at best.
At the recent Hungarian Grand Prix on July 26, Verstappen finished second behind Lando Norris, who secured his first victory of the 2026 season. Kimi Antonelli completed the podium in third. Red Bull’s car, the RB22, is powered by a Red Bull Ford power unit for the 2026 season.
Coronel remains optimistic about Verstappen’s chances at Zandvoort, suggesting that the home crowd’s energy could propel him to his first victory of the 2026 season. Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull until at least the end of the 2028 season.
