Noël Ummels initially expressed skepticism about the return of Formula 1 to Zandvoort, but now he’s ready to admit he was wrong. If necessary, he’ll even don the color orange in penance.
The 21st century Grand Prix of the Netherlands was in its fourth edition. Three times, the home crowd got what they came for: local hero Max Verstappen climbed to the top of the podium. The first two times, there was little competition, as starting from pole in Zandvoort, which he did each time, gives you as much of a head start on victory as in Monaco. Thankfully, the third edition turned into a spectacle, thanks to a feature of our country that we usually see as a disadvantage, except for the farmers: rain.
As a columnist, you’re paid to express your opinion. It’s a bit presumptuous to think that it matters, but it’s your fate. And more painfully, you can sometimes be wrong. I saw my first Formula 1 cars on the Zandvoort circuit and think it’s a beautiful classic, but I considered it totally unsuitable for today’s Formula 1. I was not alone in this, as drivers also warned that the track was too narrow to generate enough overtaking actions for their ambitions on one hand and our viewing pleasure on the other. Consider this: if a driver other than Max Verstappen had won the 2021 comeback race in the same way, we would have started improving our Duolingo level out of boredom before halfway through.
Admission of Guilt
I must admit, I also pointed out the infrastructure as a weak spot. Trains can get stranded, beaches can attract so many day-trippers on a sunny day that a Grand Prix could bring Zandvoort to a standstill. However, the prince and his paladins promised to solve the logistical puzzle with mathematical precision, and they kept their promise. Indeed, Zandvoort is running smoothly.
My criticism also revealed a poor memory, as I was there when the Grand Prix of England in 2000 got stuck in the mud. The paying visitor was kindly asked to turn around for the qualification, as Silverstone and its surroundings could no longer handle the traffic. Those who were stubborn enough to still make their way to the circuit risked disappearing down Northamptonshire’s drain due to a landslide. I myself had gotten up at the crack of dawn to fulfill my journalistic duty.
Muddy Parking Lots
Oh yes, those were the times when Brexit was still seen as a liberation from the EU shackles, with the United Kingdom once again ruling the waves as a world power, a sweet dream of islanders who think they know better. As always, it was The Guardian that underscored the bitter reality with biting sarcasm that great Great Britain is also just a small country: ‘The most prestigious and glamorous event on the British motorsport calendar degenerated into a farce when 50,000 fans had to stay away due to muddy parking lots’.
Eight years later, it happened again, and four years after that: heavy rain exposed a muddy pool of British incompetence, and still, the organization regularly goes under. Britannia rules the waves, but we can’t handle a bit of water on the mainland. Take a trip to Zandvoort and see how it’s done. Then I will finally admit that I was wrong with my Zandvoort skepticism.
