Zandvoort Bids Farewell to Formula One With Final Lap Party
NXTbets Pro | Published On: August 23, 2026
Zandvoort farewell
Zandvoort closed its Formula One chapter on Sunday with a “Final Lap” party, giving the Dutch Grand Prix a sendoff after the 2026 race became the final Formula One event in the circuit’s current run. Formula One returned to Zandvoort in 2021 after a 36-year absence, and the event had been scheduled to end when the contract expired in 2026. Organizers did not extend the deal and did not pursue a new contract. Local organizers said they could not take on the financial risk without government support, and that left the seaside venue with no path to stay on the calendar. The final race weekend drew tens of thousands of Max Verstappen fans known as the “Orange Army,” and the atmosphere carried beyond the grandstands. Celebrations continued in the streets late into the evening, turning the finale into a full-circuit farewell. Zandvoort had built its place back on the Formula One schedule with a return that came after more than three decades away, and its exit now closes that second act. The weekend marked the end of a short but intense modern run for a track that had once looked gone for good and then came back with packed stands, strong local backing and a steady place in the sport’s conversation.
Verstappen reaction
Max Verstappen said the track would be missed and described Zandvoort as “one of the most rewarding and special circuits to drive.” He said the circuit’s history, fans and demanding layout made it one of the best tracks on the calendar. That view fit the identity of a venue built on old-school characteristics rather than modern excess. Zandvoort has an undulating layout, fast corners and limited runoff, a combination that keeps drivers under pressure from start to finish. It asks for precision and leaves little room for error. Verstappen’s comments matched the mood around the final weekend, where the home support remained one of the race’s defining features. The Orange Army turned every appearance into a major local moment, and Verstappen’s connection to that crowd helped shape the event’s profile after Formula One returned in 2021. He was not the only driver to speak about the loss. Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, Nico Hulkenberg and Lance Stroll also said they would miss the circuit. Their reactions underlined what Zandvoort offered the sport, a compact, demanding track with a distinctive feel and a fan base that treated race weekend like a national celebration. The result was a venue that drew respect from drivers even as its run came to an end.
Dutch Grand Prix legacy
Jan Lammers, the former sporting director, said the comeback had once seemed like “a crazy idea.” It proved to be much more than that. Lammers said the return of the Dutch Grand Prix brought more success and fan support than organizers had expected, and the final weekend reflected that growth. The race came back after a 36-year absence and quickly turned into one of the sport’s most visible stopovers, driven by Verstappen’s rise and the sheer volume of orange in the stands. Zandvoort’s position on the calendar was built around that energy, and the circuit used its seaside setting and narrow, old-school profile to create a race that felt different from the rest. Even as the contract moved toward its final expiration, the event held its place as a major gathering point for fans and drivers alike. The closure now leaves behind a clear record. Zandvoort restored Formula One to a place that had been missing it for generations, delivered a stretch of packed grandstands and street celebrations, and ended with the kind of farewell that matched its character. For the people who filled the circuit, the final lap was a goodbye to a track that had become part of the modern Formula One landscape again, even if only for a limited run.
