After every Formula 1 race, driver Jeroen Bleekemolen shares his findings in an exclusive column for Formule1.nl. Who or what caught his attention, what went well, and what needs to change? This time: What is the legacy of the Dutch GP in Zandvoort and will it ever come back after all?
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Well. That was it. After six editions, Formula 1 in Zandvoort has come to an end. It feels bittersweet, but above all I feel proud. When we look back on this in five or ten years, I think we will truly realize how special this period has been.
We have had Formula 1 in Zandvoort six times over the past years, in which Max Verstappen won three times. But it was about much more than just his performances. The atmosphere, the entire organization: it was fantastic and I still find it incredibly impressive how they managed to pull it off in Zandvoort. The whole event, everything around it: it was simply of an unprecedented level.
When many heard that they were going to organize Formula 1 in Zandvoort, we all basically said: ‘You’ve gone completely crazy. How are you going to do that?’
The most impressive to me was still that first year. We came here while the corona period was still in full swing. We had no idea what was going to happen. When you then see how it was set up and how perfect that first edition was, I still find that incredible. Of an unprecedented level. By that I mean how the track was, but especially also the logistics and how everything was arranged. People all came by bike, there were dedicated parking spaces and people walked to the circuit. If you wanted to get a hamburger, you didn’t have to wait long in line. Basically, everything was just good.
They didn’t really have to improve anything from that level in the following years. It has always just been very good.
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I talked a lot about it this weekend with Jan Lammers and Allard Kalff. The organization is actually stopping at a high point. From their perspective, I think it is a very good financial choice. It feels bittersweet, but I do think it is wise. We don’t know what the future will look like and how it will go.
That no one steps in to take over the event is of course a shame. But you don’t just have someone like that. You really have to stick your neck out if you want to carry this event, with all the costs involved and the way it is all structured. Bl
In the end, ‘BV Nederland’ has earned 1 billion euros from this event. And my opinion is that you can hardly believe that there was never really more support.
Will the Dutch Grand Prix ever return? I never say ‘never’. Theoretically, Zandvoort could be a replacement Grand Prix if Formula 1 suddenly has to relocate. The circuit meets the standard. But you can never set it up like it has been done now. Months of preparation went into this every year and there are such detailed scripts behind it. If you have to ‘just’ replace another Grand Prix, it will never be as beautiful as it was now.
But well, who knows. It is very unlikely, but not impossible. For now, we should especially cherish what we have experienced. We witnessed something unique. And no one can take that away from us anymore.
Read more ‘Zandvoort will miss F1, but the feeling is definitely mutual’ | Dutch GP Update
