The organisers of the Dutch Grand Prix have secured an extension to continue staging the race at the Zandvoort circuit for an additional year, but have announced it will drop off the Formula 1 (F1) calendar after the 2026 season.
The top motor racing series today announced that “after much consideration and discussion,” the promoter has decided not to remain on the calendar after 2026.
After a long absence, the Dutch Grand Prix returned to the F1 calendar in 2021, with the Zandvoort circuit hosting its first round in 35 seasons that year.
Before its return, Zandvoort, a coastal resort not far from Amsterdam, had previously staged a Dutch round of the F1 World Championship from 1952 to 1985.
The series’ return to the Netherlands coincided with a period of dominance for local star Max Verstappen, who has won the Dutch Grand Prix three times, and been crowned world champion in each of the four years (including 2024) the event has run to date.
In 2025 (after which the current hosting deal had been set to expire), the event will take place from August 29 to 31. The date for the final event in 2026, which will include a sprint for the first time at the Dutch Grand Prix, will be announced next year.
The decision by the Dutch Grand Prix organizers will come as a blow to local fans as the race has drawn huge viewership numbers domestically in recent years thanks to the on-track success of Verstappen for the dominant Red Bull team.
The news could also disappoint domestic rightsholder Viaplay, the European media heavyweight, which agreed to a deal to continue as the home of F1 in the Netherlands for another five seasons earlier this year.
Viaplay claims to have broken F1 viewing records year-on-year in the Netherlands. Last year, there were approximately 12 million unique television viewers in the country, an increase of 35%.
Robert van Overdijk, director of the Dutch Grand Prix, has now said: “The Dutch Grand Prix is the result of a unique collaboration between SportVibes, TIG Sports, and Circuit Zandvoort, who shared the ambition of bringing the race back to the Netherlands. What we have achieved so far is undoubtedly a huge success.
“While today’s announcement signals the end of a monumental era, we are confident there is plenty more for fans to look forward to at the Dutch Grand Prix in 2025 and 2026.
“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. We wanted to take this step while our event is adored and supported by passionate fans, residents, and the Formula 1 community.”
Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, added: “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.
“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.”
F1 has recently renewed several hosting contracts, including those for the Monza and Monaco Grands Prix, on six-year deals through 2031.
Other locations with contracts currently set to expire after 2025 include Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Mexico City, and Las Vegas in the US.
The current F1 season will conclude this weekend with the traditional final race in Abu Dhabi, with the constructors' championship winners still undecided.
The 2025 campaign will again feature a 24-race calendar, starting with the Australian Grand Prix on 16 March and the traditional finish in Abu Dhabi in early December.
