Despite the popularity of Max Verstappen and the immense success of the Dutch GP, Zandvoort may potentially disappear from the Formula 1 calendar after 2025. This was suggested by director Robert van Overdijk during his visit to the Belgian Grand Prix.
Van Overdijk revealed at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit that a race in Zandvoort after next year is far from a certainty. The popularity of the Dutch GP is not the issue, as within Formula 1, both policymakers and teams and drivers are keen on a contract extension for Van Overdijk and his team. However, the future, like many other circuits, is uncertain. This uncertainty, although not explicitly stated by the parties involved, is largely related to financial considerations.
The Dutch GP has been made possible since its inception by several involved parties, without support from the government, for instance. However, costs are rising, partly due to the government introducing higher VAT and local plans in the Zandvoort municipality that will further burden the Dutch GP.
There is also a lot of competition: cities and/or circuits around the world are eager to secure a spot on the F1 calendar. This makes it much more challenging for events like the Dutch GP to meet all the demands (and costs) associated with organizing a race. These are issues that also apply to the Grand Prix in Spain in Barcelona and the one in Belgium at Spa-Francorchamps.
