After Zandvoort, will F1 move elsewhere in Netherlands? Assen responds to possible replacement

Yesterday at 02:18 PM

The Dutch circuit by the North Sea is set to say goodbye to Formula 1. After its return in 2021, Zandvoort will host its final two editions in 2025 and 2026, the latter including a Sprint race. This news has shaken the Netherlands, which risks losing a GP entirely, both at Zandvoort and Assen.

On December 4, Formula 1 and the Zandvoort GP organizers reached an agreement to end their partnership after the 2026 season. The final edition extends the current contract by one year beyond 2025.

Reintroduced in 2021 amidst the growing success of local hero Max Verstappen, who won three of the four editions held so far, the event’s future seemed tied to his popularity. After a non-win this year, organizers may have feared a decline and a "reason" not to continue the endeavor. However, the decision to end the partnership could also involve other factors, such as economic returns or the event's success. Concerns about potential financial difficulties in the future likely also played a role.

With Zandvoort's exit from the calendar, Assen could potentially replace it starting in 2027. This historic Dutch circuit, currently hosting MotoGP, has now addressed the possibility in comments to RN365.

"We are absolutely not working on anything in this vein," a TT Circuit Assen spokesperson said. "At the moment, we are very focused on the 100th anniversary of the TT, which will take place next year. Organizing this event at this location for 100 years is something we are incredibly proud of. It demands our full attention, so we are not engaged in other matters."

Adding an event like Formula 1 could also challenge Assen's already packed schedule. "We're full. We have 200 days of rentals per year, and our calendar is complete. We have immense respect for how Zandvoort's organization has handled, and is still handling, everything as they have two more editions left. We also respect the way they made this decision—it's a complex market with enormous challenges, including financial ones. Their decision to bow out at their peak deserves respect."

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