Zandvoort is gearing up for the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend, and for the last time. The race weekend runs from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 August and caps five years of Formula 1 in the seaside town.
Preparations at the circuit have been completed at a rapid pace, with the coastal municipality entirely focused on the event.
A sprint weekend to finish
The final edition is also a first: Zandvoort has never hosted an F1 sprint race before. Practice and sprint qualifying fill Friday 21 August.
The sprint race starts on Saturday 22 August at 12:00 and runs 24 laps, with qualifying for the main race later that afternoon.
The Grand Prix itself starts on Sunday 23 August at 15:00 and covers 72 laps of the dune circuit. It is round 12 of the 23-race world championship and the 36th Dutch Grand Prix to count towards it.
Max Verstappen has won the race at Zandvoort three times.
Why this is the end
The organisers announced in December 2024 that they would not continue beyond 2026. The Dutch Grand Prix is privately owned and operated, one of the few races on the calendar without government backing, and needs three sold-out days each year to stay profitable.
“We are a privately owned and operated business, and must balance opportunities against risks and responsibilities,” director Robert van Overdijk said when the decision was made public.
The organisation could not afford to structurally attract fewer visitors, he said, and preferred to say goodbye on a good note.
Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali said the Dutch organisers raised the bar for European Grands Prix, with an event built around sustainable travel to the coast.
