The phenomenon Max Verstappen which has in the Netherlands for years required a local circuit. Max’s fans are already responsible for filling entire paths with orange color like na Spa-Francorchamps or Austria and they are the majority of many other tracks, but the idol from the Netherlands needs a circuit like one of the Zandvoort to celebrate their achievements in the most special way with their fans. Only through this phenomenon is it understood that this track, which could be similar to the Jarama track in Madrid before its remodeling, now hosts an event of such importance as Dutch GP.
The place is unique in many ways. The track is near the city of Zandvoort, only 17,000 inhabitantswho this weekend live in the streets of their town which they call ‘festival of the races of Zandvoort. Some 30 km/h speed limit signs were changed to 33 for the legendary number of Verstappen, who now wears the number 1 as a two-time world champion.
Most houses have checkered flags on their balconies or windows or decked out in orange paper. It’s a coastal city, the beach for the people of Amsterdam, and at one end of it they have a circuit that can’t be built right now. Not because it’s close to the beach, but because it is located on top of a sea of sand dunes. Today, no one would think of building asphalt over the natural wealth of sand, which, however, is advancing on the other side of the track. A remarkable place for a track.
But what is most striking is the limited extension of its facilities. Staff from several MD teams commented that the pits were the tightest of the year along with Monaco. And be careful if there is a ‘Safety Car’ in the race and everyone wants to stop at the same time. It can be a distraction. The distance between pit areas is minimal. This is the perfect example to understand what a mousetrap the track is.
Everything is boxed because there is no more space. So the hospitality paddock is about 200 meters away from where the trucks for the teams and engineers are located. It is impossible to put trucks and hospitals in the same paddock, because the finish is straight and turn 3 almost touching. And the F2 paddock, out of the way. The press room is a large temporary building and the car park is not located next to the circuit, but at the other end of the Zandvoort promenade. Access is just as complicated. No driveway. This is done on a street, within the city. It is like arriving at a circuit along a street in a municipality like Salou, on the beach, among holidaymakers and hundreds of people on bicycles. And there, suddenly, a circuit. Amazing. It’s boring. Strange. Has a very special charm, although far from the ‘glamour’ and luxury of the new F1 in places like Miami or Las Vegas.
But even more surprising is stepping on its two famous banked curves. The man in charge of redesigning this track, Jarno Zaffellialready told MD before the premiere of the new redesign of the track that he wanted to create two curves that would not leave anyone indifferent. The La 3, with cant, allows many different layouts. La 10, with a bank of 18 degrees, double Indianapolisturns the closest thing to a straight line into a curve for current F1. There they go over 300 km/h. We went for both curves from the inside. Above all, from outside 10, it’s hard to keep your balance and not fall. Impressive. so many. Like a full Grand Prix where more than 300,000 people are expected throughout the weekend. And that the layout is small in terms of the extension of its facilities. Everything, by Max Verstappen.
Many know Amsterdam’s famous Red Light District, but they should stop here ‘Orange Quarter’: Zandvoort, a summer resort that is now becoming the center of ‘Verstappen fever’.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
