Circuit Zandvoort is set to host its final Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix this weekend, with the event scheduled to depart the calendar after the 2026 season. The decision not to extend the contract beyond this year was made by the promoter.
The 2026 Dutch Grand Prix, taking place from August 21-23, will mark the first time Zandvoort has featured a Sprint race format. This upcoming event will be the 36th running of the Dutch Grand Prix as a round of the Formula 1 World Championship.
The circuit returned to the Formula 1 schedule in 2021 following a 36-year absence. Financial considerations, including a proposed increase in VAT on event tickets by the Dutch government, contributed to the promoter’s decision to conclude the current agreement.
Amidst Zandvoort’s departure, four-time world champion Max Verstappen’s long-term future in Formula 1 remains a subject of ongoing speculation. His current contract with Red Bull Racing extends until the end of the 2028 season.
However, reports from August 18, 2026, indicate that Red Bull has offered Verstappen a new five-year extension, which would secure him with the team until 2033. Verstappen has reportedly expressed a preference for a shorter commitment, potentially a one-year extension, to maintain flexibility.
A performance-related exit clause in Verstappen’s existing contract became active after he did not hold a top-two position in the Drivers’ Championship standings at the 2026 season’s halfway point. Red Bull reportedly offered an €8 million buyout to negate this clause, an offer which was declined by Verstappen’s management.
Verstappen has voiced discontent with the performance of the RB22 car during the 2026 season and has been critical of the new F1 regulations. He has hinted at a potential early departure from the sport if he loses enjoyment or if the car is not consistently competitive.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Verstappen, a new generation of Dutch racing talent is emerging, aiming for Formula 1. René Lammers, 18, is currently competing in the Eurocup-3 series for MP Motorsport.
Lammers, son of former F1 driver Jan Lammers, secured four victories and nine podiums to finish fourth in the 2025 F4 Spanish Championship. He has already achieved one podium finish in the 2026 Eurocup-3 season.
The Eurocup-3 championship utilises Dallara 326 chassis powered by Toyota 1.6-litre turbo engines. Its 2026 calendar includes prominent European circuits such as Paul Ricard, Portimao, Imola, Monza, Silverstone, Jerez, Hungaroring, and Montmeló.
Rocco Coronel, 15, is another promising Dutch driver, competing in the 2026 F4 Spanish Championship with MP Motorsport as a member of the Red Bull Junior Team. Son of racing veteran Tom Coronel, he won the 2025 Ginetta Junior Championship with 11 wins and 19 podium finishes.
Coronel made his single-seater debut in the 2025 F4 Spanish Championship finale, securing a podium result. Earlier in 2026, he competed in the Formula Winter Series, achieving a victory at Estoril. The F4 Spanish Championship uses Tatuus F4-T421 chassis and Abarth engines.
Juste Mulder, also 15, is competing in the Spanish F4 Championship in 2026, having recently unveiled his official F4 livery. His father, Gerard Mulder, actively supports his career through sponsorship acquisition and by launching a sports drink to generate income. Mulder aims to reach Formula 1 around 2030.
