the Dutch Grand Prix will disappear after 2026

The Dutch Grand Prix, held in the coastal town of Zandvoort, will disappear from the Formula 1 calendar after 2026, world championship organizers announced on Wednesday.

“After much thought and discussion, the promoter has made the decision not to maintain the Dutch Grand Prix” beyond this date, it is indicated in a press release.

Since its return in 2021 after a 36-year absence, the Grand Prix has been won three times by four-time world champion and local hero Max Verstappen (Red Bull). Only the 2024 victory escaped him, this having gone to the Briton Lando Norris (McLaren), who became his main rival for the title during the season.

Questioned by the national channel NOS, GP director Robert van Overdijk explained that he had “several options on the table” to continue to organize a race on the lands of «Mad Max».

Towards the end of the historical calendar?

“We could have alternated with other circuits, there was also the possibility of continuing to organize the GP every year”he explained in particular. “Finally, the decision was made to end the meeting after the 2026 edition.”

“In 2026 we will close an iconic chapter in the history of Dutch sport, Max Verstappen has of course been a big driving force for this”he also said.

Helped by the Netflix series «Drive to Survive»which is a hit in the United States and has boosted its popularity all over the world, Formula 1 has been undergoing a transformation in recent years, to the detriment of historic events, some of which have disappeared, like the French Grand Prix (the last GP took place in 2022).

The Middle East and especially the United States currently represent one of the priority markets for the single-seater world championship, itself being controlled by the American group Liberty Media which acquired the commercial rights to F1 in 2017.