Zandvoort memories: Our writers’ highlights from the F1 Dutch GP

For the fourth time on the shifting sands, Formula 1 circles around the dunes of Zandvoort as the seaside circuit prepares for its final Dutch Grand Prix. Since rejoining the calendar in 2021, the venue departed at the close of 2024—but the echoes of that return still resonate.

F1’s First Non‑Stop Nightclub

The 2021 edition stands out as the most unforgettable Zandvoort experience. Following the catastrophic 1985 disappearance of F1 from the Dutch dunes, seeing the circuit once more felt almost surreal. COVID restrictions made this particular Grand Prix one of the first major sporting events in the country to resume after prolonged restrictions.
The global title battle in 2021 added urgency, while Pandemic limitations restricted spectator numbers drastically. That summer, the event was one of the few Grand Prix weekends to operate fully safely.
Most significantly, it coincided with arguably the most intense championship fight in F1 history.
On that specific Sunday afternoon, every element aligned perfectly. After the national anthem and the ceremonial walk to the pits, an unprecedented tension filled the airfield.
And what encapsulated the four‑day festival was simply this: when Max Verstappen slipped on his helmet, the playlist erupted with “Super Max” once more—probably by the forty‑second chord that day.

Overtaking proved exceptionally difficult with the 2021 car generations, meaning the outcome hinged entirely on the qualifying grid while the whole “orange army” gathered for a singular hero. The pressure on Verstappen’s shoulders was immense.
Against that weight, the Dutchman persevered and delivered the race winning his dream prize.

When then‑Red Bull team principal Christian Horner stepped off the track, he captured the essence of the weekend: “It feels like living in a nightclub seven‑days a week for four consecutive days.” With the final lap approaching, the 2021 edition remains by far the most memorable of all.*
– Ronald Vording

The Surprising Seaside Sojourn

The announcement that Zandvoort would rejoin the F1 calendar was initially shocking—a street circuit presumed dead since 1985 suddenly appears on a schedule dominated by hypercar cathedrals like Doha and Jeddah.
Yet Zandvoort pledged to deliver something radically different. Its creative utilization of the inner banking on Turn 3 offered a novel racing aesthetic compared to the sprawling classic layout of Turns 3 and 14. Combined with the festival‑like atmosphere fostered by enthusiastic attendees, the circuit possesses a distinctive personality enveloped in an orange‑tinted haze.

In 2023, while covering the same grand prix alongside former teammate Matt Kew, we stumbled through a rented Airbnb located mere blocks from the track. After navigating a brisk walk to the circuit, rainy Saturday morning forced us onto damp clothing and inadequate shelter. When we returned to the paddock for post‑race interviews, it was clear the contrast between the hardened racetrack and the seaside dining option beyond was intentional—and deliciously enjoyable.
Observing the drivers from trackside remains unequivocally memorable. Hovering near the outer limits on the banked Turn 3, Verstappen nearly scraped the wall at every attempt, demonstrating how closely competitors must hug the lines. Further along, navigating the undulating profiles of Turns 5 and 6 required razor‑sharp precision—no areas existed for relaxation; a successful lap demands absolute rhythm control.

<p>On paper, the podium placements lean modest for a technical, compact circuit—occasionally surpassing expectations based on weather conditions and race circumstances. In that sense, F1 ultimately conceded the primary victory to formula developers whose machines outperformed on the timesheet yet lacked pace on track.</p>
<p>—</p>

Didier Pironi’s Last Victory

My earliest motorsport recollections belong to the 1982 season—a year marked by heartbreaking tragedies overshadowing the occasional highlight. In those formative years, I was captivated by the spectacle: the twin Ferraris fighting for the lead while commentator Murray Walker’s spirited narration filled every broadcast moment.

Growing up in East Yorkshire meant that British motorsport tracks were geographically distant—farther than one could imagine sitting mere minutes from Zandvoorth’s crash site. Watching the television coverage begin—Murray guiding an aerial view of the circuit against a backdrop of dunes—confronted me with an exotic yet reachable destination.
Summer weekends during this epoch inevitably meant plunging directly into the biting Atlantic at seaside resorts such as Bridlington or Scarborough. Imagine that remote venue lying only a grey horizon away!

<p>This 1982 chapter represents the ultimate coda for Diecíer Pironi’s career: his final victory for Ferrari, culminating before a career‑ending accident. Revisiting the BBC archival footage confirms his reputation as a dominant force in the opening phases of the race.</p>
<p>Season‑to‑season evolution revealed fascinating contrasts: Renaults proved fast yet fragile; turbine‑powered opponents dominated lap times yet frequently succumbed to catastrophic failures; and the championship ordering bore little resemblance to what younger viewers remember now (with John Watson leading at peak contention).</p>

<p>The newspaper *Autosport* carried a poignant piece noting Zandvoort’s rediscovery—its reinstatement paralleling the simultaneous arrivals of Doha and Jeddah within an established championship vision championing lavish desert circuits and supporting developing nations through public investment.</p>
<p>Even with the constraint that my Methodist household possessed no wine cellars, Negille’s perspective suggests we found our bottles amidst the dust of history. As Zandvoort finally ascended to classic status 44 years later, raising a toast to its enduring legacy becomes both appropriate and necessary.</p>

<em>- Stuart Codling</em></p>

Cycling for Fun, Fried Food, and Formula 1

Working for the Motorsport Network means limited opportunities to drive directly to race weekends, often requiring attendance as engaged patrons rather than active participants. Consequently, when I participated in Zandvoort last year, the journey itself—cycling from London—defined the trip.

Over three demanding days covering nearly 300 kilometres across East London, the rolling plains of East Anglia, and the flat regions westward into the Netherlands, we experienced soreness, punctures, and unexpected torrential rain. Yet our provisions included a stash of stroopwaffels and, crucially, a stop at Baker & Moore bakery in Rotterdam—which sustained us until the first pit lights flickered on at Friday‒morning.

Upon arrival we was absorbed instantly by the track ambience. While the absence of Max Verstappen memorabilia from our group remained noticeable in the surrounding grandstand, the familiarity built rapidly: by the fifth lap we were shouting victory cries louder than any crowd could produce.

Beyond the race laps themselves, the defining aspect was the electric passion of the supporters, transmissible through the stands. The accessibility of local delicacies—fried potatoes with mayonnaise or kaassouffle paired with bread—added another layer to the experience. Zandvoort, sadly absent from our future calendars, would indeed be profoundly missed.**<br><br>
<em>- Owen Bellwood</em></p>

Trendsetter for Modern F1 Races

Technical critics often dismiss Zandvoort as outdated and cramped—an argument that overlooks the overwhelming evidence in favor of its continued viability. Here is an absurd number: 300,000 reasons why it succeeded where many circuits failed.

That magnetic attraction stems from Master verstoppen and the sheer volume of passionate attendees who transform the venue into an unapologetically festive affair. While certain logistical complexities accompany such a tiny footprint, the pioneering use of train shuttles and bicycle corridors for fan transportation constitutes a benchmark model currently missing from broader F1 operations.<br>

That charged atmosphere is precisely why Zandvoort earns the proud title of “trendsetter.” It demonstrates that a Grand Prix weekend can evolve into a multi‑day festival, using creativity rather than merely speed to draw global audiences.

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