Formula 1 and Dutch Grand Prix organisers have confirmed a single-year contract extension for Zandvoort, with 2026 set to be the sport’s final visit to the track.
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The Dutch Grand Prix will depart the Formula 1 calendar after 2026. The popular race, held at the coastal Zandvoort circuit, has signed a single-year contract extension, confirming that the event will remain on the schedule for the next two seasons. As part of the deal, the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix will use the Sprint format, meaning there will be an additional Saturday race on F1’s farewell weekend.
Zandvoort re-joined the F1 calendar after a 31-year absence in 2021. The return of the race was announced in 2019 and was previously scheduled to take place in 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic saw plans put on hold.
The circuit underwent a revamp ahead of its return, for which over a million fans attempted to purchase tickets. Max Verstappen’s presence on the grid was a driving factor behind the Dutch Grand Prix’s comeback. The Dutch driver won all of the first three races in the modern era at the track from pole position but 2024 saw Lando Norris beat him to the finish line.
Dutch Grand Prix Will Not Rotate with Belgium
The fact that Zandvoort will be disappearing entirely from the F1 calendar comes as somewhat of a surprise, given earlier rumours that the Dutch and Belgian Grands Prix would rotate on the calendar from 2026 onwards.
Despite sell out crowds in every year since its return, organisers of the Dutch Grand Prix have struggled to make the event financially viable. Speaking about the news, Robert van Overdijk, Director of the Dutch Grand Prix, noted in a press release:
“We are a privately owned and operated business, and we must balance the opportunities presented by continuing to host the event, against other risks and responsibilities. We have decided to go out on a high with two more incredible Dutch Grands Prix in 2025 and 2026.”
It appears that the decision for the Dutch Grand Prix to end after 2026 was one of the promoter’s choosing, with no influence from Formula 1. The sport’s CEO Stefano Domenicali says that options for the Dutch race to remain on the calendar annually or switch to hosting the sport every other year were on the table:
“I am incredibly grateful for the work that the team at the Dutch Grand Prix have done in recent years. They raised the bar for European Grands Prix in terms of event spectacle and entertainment, supported the development of young talent by hosting F2, F3 and our F1 ACADEMY series, and have also pioneered sustainable solutions that have inspired our events around the world as we drive towards being Net Zero by 2030.
All parties positively collaborated to find a solution to extend the race, with many options, including alternation or annual events on the table, and we respect the decision from the promoter to finish its amazing run in 2026. I want to thank all the team at the Dutch Grand Prix and the Municipality of Zandvoort who have been fantastic partners to Formula 1.”
A further eight circuits have their contracts up for renewal before the end of 2026. Among those are Imola, Spa-Francorchamps, Baku City Circuit and Catalunya – which is due to host the Spanish Grand Prix for the final time in 2025 before the event moves to Madrid.
2025 Dutch Grand Prix Tickets On Sale
Tickets are already on sale for the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix, which is set to be F1’s penultimate visit to Zandvoort. Next year’s Dutch race is set to take place as the first race after the summer break on August 29-31.
A range of grandstand seats, general admission access and VIP tickets are currently available via our trusted ticket partner, while official ticket packages for the race are available via F1 Experiences.
