Everything you need to know about Zandvoort
- therookiereporters
- Aug 29
- 2 min read
The Dutch Grand Prix is coming up, and here is everything you need to know about Zandvoort, the circuit, the best spots, and why you should go
The Circuit:
Circuit Zandvoort is located in the Netherlands, making it home to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The track has a length of 4.259km, making the racing distance 306.587 km and is completed in 72 laps. Lewis Hamilton has the fastest lap time around the circuit, with his time of 1:11.097 set in 2021.
Like Silverstone, the circuit of Zandvoort was first opened back in 1948 as part of a wave of post-war motorsport that went all across Europe at that time. The Dutch Automobile Racing Club was the planner for the circuit, bringing along 1927 Le Mans winner Sammy Davis as a consultant for the project.
The first Grand Prix on the Dutch track was in 1952, where Alberto Ascari dominated the whole race, bringing home a 1-2-3 for Ferrari. F1 then used the circuit on and off until 1985, where it wasn`t on the calendar again until an announcement came in 2019 that Zandvoort would return for 2020. This made the total Formula 1 hiatus conclude at 35 years long, coming after the Covid-19 pandemic.
What is the circuit like?
The circuit of Zandvoort is really known for being quick, insane and old school with many of F1’s current drivers describing it as such. Further, many drivers have a long history with the track, it being popular of junior categories. Zandvoort is a track that swoops and flows all the way through the sand dunes, giving it a roller-coaster sense. The circuit had been modernised when it returned to F1 with changes such as increasing banking in the famous Tarzan corner.
Why should you go?
Zandvoort does really combines a lot of perfect characteristics for an F1 fan. It is a very historic track, it having also famously featured in John Frankenheimer`s Grand Prix, and it has been the host of so many great F1 moments over the years, for example, Gilles Villeneuve`s three-wheeled lap. That is something that will live on not only in the track’s history but in F1’s history. The atmosphere of the circuit, increased by Max Verstappen's presence on the grid, is almost always guaranteed to be magical and also orange-hued. Many reports from fans after attending the Dutch Grand Prix have named their attendance with high praise, noting its speciality.
The best place to watch from at the circuit?
Most people who attend the Dutch Grand Prix recommend watching from the first turn at Tarzan or to one of the banked corners. These include the final turn, Arie Luyendijkbocht, or Hugenholtzbocht- the latter being widened into a parabolic corner allowing for cars to run side by side. So go grab yourself some tickets for next year and ensure you catch the Dutch Grand Prix before its exit from the Formula 1 calendar the following year.
Article written by Ingrid Amdahl
