Rick Jansen, originally a teacher of economics, has been making a name for himself as DJ Admin at Formula 1 races for over a decade. From fan zones to the paddock, he’s active everywhere. He also stirs things up at the Dutch GP. “For me, Zandvoort is the pinnacle,” says the resident of Roermond.
– Firstly, can you explain your connection with Formula 1?
“I started following the sport in 1994. It was actually because of Jos Verstappen, who was born in Montfort, near where I live. My first active memory of the sport is Jos Verstappen’s race in Hockenheim. In 2014, I was asked to DJ at a youth stand during the F1 weekend in Spa-Francorchamps for the first time. Since then, I’ve done over a hundred races.”
– In the meantime, you’re also an economics teacher at Philips van Horne College in Weert. How does that combination work?
“Very well. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, I’m in the classroom and I’m a regular teacher. I usually grade tests and prepare lessons on the plane. You don’t have any reception there, so you can work concentrated. Of course, I also share my experiences with my students. I talk about my travels, but I’m also a freelancer with my own business, so there are overlaps with the subject I teach.”
– What exactly do you do during the F1 weekends?
“I actually work for the local promoters. In the run-up to a race, I’m usually put forward by Formula One Management as one of their regular DJs. The promoters then get in touch with me and we make arrangements. I play for the international fans, but at some races with many Dutch fans, I also always provide a Dutch hour with Dutch music. At some point, you have two hundred crazies in the middle moving from left to right, and the fun part is that everyone else around them quickly joins in. This way, we ensure that everyone has a fun association with the Orange Army.”
What gives you the most satisfaction in working in the Formula 1 scene?
“For me, it’s really the variety. For instance, starting my morning in the paddock with chill music as the drivers stroll in, followed by a Dutch hour in the afternoon and international blasting in the evening. The audience also varies greatly. From men in smart suits in the paddock club to the party-goers in orange in the fan zones.”
As a DJ, what are the most enjoyable races for you to work at?
“For me, Zandvoort is the pinnacle, but I also find Singapore to be an amazing experience. I stand there as a DJ, looking up at the city skyline. And in Singapore, there are seven different stages, which we DJs all take turns at. So, in terms of experience, that’s really cool for me. At the same time, the races in the Middle East are also special. You notice that these people party less throughout the year, but you see a bit of what happened to us after the corona period. We hadn’t been allowed to party for a while, and when we could again, a huge amount of energy was released. I see that principle happening every year in Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Bahrain.”
I assume you also closely follow the sport itself. What do you think of the season so far?
“It’s good for the sport that the tension is back. Of course, I wish Max Verstappen his fifth world title, but I’m glad it’s not a season like two years ago when you knew before a race that he was going to win. I think it’s great that McLaren is back at the top and that Mercedes and Ferrari are catching up again. I’m a sports lover first and foremost. Sure, I’m a fan of Max, but I also enjoy a cool customer like Oscar Piastri. I secretly hope this season also gets a thrilling climax, a bit like in 2021. That was a dream scenario for us Dutch. As far as I’m concerned, the decision can fall in the last race again, that would be really great.”
