Dutch Grand Prix director "incredibly proud" about start of F1 weekend in Zandvoort
Dutch Grand Prix director Jan Lammers has said that the start of the F1 weekend in Zandvoort has gone well thus far. "We have started, and it looks great again despite the weather, which did make today unpredictable. But I am incredibly proud," he told local broadcaster NH Nieuws.
The coastal city was covered under a weather warning for strong sustained wind and gusts throughout Friday morning and much of the afternoon. The entire country is also under a warning for thunderstorms and wind gusts of up to 75 kilometers per hour, which could arrive around the time that Saturday's Formula 1 qualifying session wraps up.
Lammers said that the weekend will benefit the coastal area financially. "We are full for all three days again. The Grand Prix is a unique event for the Netherlands. It brings in at least around 60 million euros for Zandvoort and the region." This could be one of the penultimate edition of the Dutch Grand Prix, at least for the time being, as the contract with Formula 1 expires after next year. The sporting director admits that it is currently up in the air whether Formula 1 will return to Zandvoort after next year.
"It's about the permits, but you also have to make a cost-benefit analysis. Organizing such a weekend costs tens of millions; it has to be profitable. We don't know yet what F1 will look like in 2026. What will Max Verstappen do? We really have to be completely full for three days. Otherwise, we will suffer losses. The moment we say we are ready, we have to wait and see whether it will also be put on the calendar."
Verstappen has won the last three races in his home country. With a victory on Sunday, he could become only the fourth driver in history to win four home races in a row. That would also equal Jim Clark's Zandvoort record of four victories on the circuit.
He could have a tougher time of it this year as he was only the fifth-quickest driver in the second training session of the day. Lando Norris of McLaren was the fastest in the first training session, and that honor went to Mercedes driver George Russell in the second training session. Norris is currently Verstappen’s closest rival in the season rankings of F1, where the reigning champion is top.
A third training session is scheduled for Saturday morning before the qualifying session begins, which will determine the drivers' grid positions at the start of the race.
