The Dutch GP, from the inside: Zandvoort, “like no other”, but a party in danger

“Like no other.” That’s the motto that greets those who attend F1 Dutch GPat the gates of the circuit, and which is repeated throughout the track. you are right The event was held at Zandvoortalso a coastal, residential and summer place for the inhabitants of Amsterdamis one of the most special. Not only because of its track, which has its own very marked character, a challenge for every driver because of its orography, with continuous inclines and two spectacular banks that accompany the recent remodeling of the route to return it to Formula 1 in 2021 , later in 1985 the previous event was held on this track, won by Niki Lauda.

Zandvoort It is special for many other reasons. For example, due to the natural coexistence of many forms of mobility, something that never ceases to amaze. Bicycles are another element of people’s life and daily life. Netherlands and brings that to the Grand Prix as well. The inhabitants of Zandvoort They choose this form of mass transportation to get to the route. Parents, children and grandparents, with their orange or Red Bullthey arrive non-stop in the morning on the route by bicycle. For them, an old car park located on the seafront has become a permanent parking lot for thousands and thousands of bicycles, with security and monitoring. Few arrive by car, although many also opt for the bus service.

Alongside the fans who paraded their bikes, thousands of fans, mostly dressed in orange to cheer on their idol Max Verstappenthey walk en masse from dawn in front of the beach until they reach the main entrance. Many of them, the majority, came from the train station. And as they met some local MD fans arriving from many parts of the Netherlands, select the train from their locality to transfer to Amsterdam and thus reach the Grand Prix. No driving. So, they can fully enjoy the ongoing party that is this event.

“We come from our city. We took a train early in the morning to go to Amsterdam, and from there to here. It works perfectly and it’s a very good thing. And as you can see, there are also many local people who passing bicycle”a couple highlighted in MD.

‘Celebration of career’

Another point that defines this event is its environment. “It’s a real party”another fan highlighted. “The biggest event of the year”. From morning to night, the music doesn’t stop and the joy is evident on everyone’s faces. From dawn, employees and volunteers welcome the route to the public with dancing, smiles, jokes and the song of ‘Da, da, da, da, Max Verstappen’ heard everywhere. And despite the fatigue, that spirit did not waver even a little as the hours passed. “It has to be like this. It’s a party,” says one of the drivers who takes journalists to the press room at the wheel of a golf cart, electric of course, to be more sustainable.

“Zandvoort is a celebration. For everyone, for all cities, not only in Amsterdam. One thing I like is arriving by train and looking around, seeing all the houses decorated with flags and banners and the people, their people, opening the doors of their houses. offering fans walking towards the circuit to use their toilets Sometimes you have to pay for a drink, but no problem, the important thing is that they offer it to you,” argue Diana and Paul, fans.

As the city posters remind us, the Dutch GP is a ‘festival’. It is as if this is the main festival of Zandvoort, the most awaited moment of the year. Houses, apartments and hotels welcome fans with their facades decorated with checkered flags or national flags. And advertisers did not miss the opportunity to hang advertising posters with F1-related puns and slogans. There is an atmosphere at different points to extend the nighttime party, a Ferris wheel inside the track and another one next to the promenade, restaurants on the beach, but above all, a big atmosphere on the circuit.

On Friday, the route was almost full. “Tell me which circuit has this atmosphere every Friday”said Alex, a fan who chatted with MD. And indeed, at the exit of the track, around 9:00 pm on the first day of the Grand Prix, at ‘Fan Zone’ Not a single pin fit. Thousands and thousands of people dance and enjoy one of the many great DJs the country has, Armin Van Buuren, with a light show and fireworks. The weather didn’t cooperate and the rain that poured down at various times over the weekend put a damper on that party, although the music didn’t stop and the fans didn’t let the rain stop when it hit them in the stand.

Uncertain future: you may fall

For all this and for the massive ‘boom’ there has been for Verstappen in the Netherlands and his massive influx into the Grand Prix, it’s surprising that this event is on a tight rope, close to running out of space on the calendar. This is where the situation in which the Barcelona GP finds itself is fully understood, in a global context where other historic tracks are suffering for their future in F1. The F1 contract for this track expires in 2025, the same as Spa (Belgium) and Barcelona, ​​​​​​which are all at risk. And for Zandvoort, things are not looking good. This is a remodeled track, but also has space limitations. Good for the general public and highly recommended for anyone because of the proximity to Amsterdam and the environment. But maybe not for VIP tourists.

Being between the city and the sea, the railway cannot be widened and the spaces between the straight and the curves are used to place the paddock on one side, separated by a few minutes’ walk from the engineers’ trucks and the pits and from the press room. And upstairs in the press room, this journalist had to write with an incessant ‘chumba chumba’ of music, and since there was no space, the paddock club (VIP area) is located right on the top floor of the press room. And so it is very difficult to follow the desire of the current F1 to create unique spaces designed for VIPs.

Currently, the best option for Zandvoort may be a possible year-to-year rotation of its F1 presence with another legendary track such as Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), also filling its stands with the orange of Max’s fans. Dutch fans are clinging to that claw to continue an F1 where they increasingly bet on other types of events, urban races in big cities, with lots of money and glamour, designed especially that for VIP packs, the ones that earn more money.

“Zandvoort has a great history and tradition and I think it’s wonderful to see how they’ve renovated the circuit. But it’s about money. F1 is money. You either have it or you don’t. So we’ll see . They prefer Las Vegas, Jeddah, Miami… and I’m worried, no, it is what it is and we have to accept it.”said another fan at the track door.

“Of course, we love having Formula 1 here. It’s a shame to lose this GP. But it’s the same for the Belgian Grand Prix, which has a lot of history, and Barcelona. It’s a shame to only have street circuits like Las Vegas . I don’t like that F1 very much. The calendar should have three large circuits viz. Barcelona, ​​​​​​Spa or Zandvoort are very good circuits. F1 will lose its magic if it forgets its history. There will be many events and many attractions, but not many races. You know, the type of tracks should be varied,” another Dutchman reflected in this newspaper. “If it continues, when Max Verstappen is gone, it will be over”said another.

“It would be a shame if we were left without a Grand Prix,” repeated the dozens of fans who passed by MD’s microphone, with resignation and little hope. “This is the most important event in the country”remembered a family. “Others will have money, but the experience here is unique”said another Max fan. Unfortunately, cash is king.