Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort is returning to Formula One in 2020
The Dutch Grand Prix is returning to Formula One World Championship in 2020, after an absence of 35 years. The event will take place at the historic Circuit Zandvoort where all previous 34 editions of the Dutch Grand Prix had been held between 1948 and 1985. The three-year deal has been agreed for the new Dutch Grand Prix.
Although a race date has not yet been formally confirmed, it is speculated that the first ever Dutch Grand Prix since 1985 is scheduled for May 2020, taking the place of the Spanish Grand Prix on the F1 calendar. Zandvoort will be the second addition to the F1 calendar in 2020, following the announcement of a street race in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi.
Circuit Zandvoort
In recent years, the rise of the Dutch driver Max Verstappen as one of the biggest stars of Formula One was followed by talks and rumours about returning of the Dutch Grand Prix to F1. Now, when the return has been officially confirmed today, the national celebration starts in the Netherlands.
On the other side, some races will drop out of the calendar. Currently, five Grand Prix events are out of contract – British, German, Italian, Mexican and Spanish.
Heineken will be the title sponsor for the Formula 1 2020 Dutch Grand Prix
Chase Carey, Chairman and CEO, Formula 1, said: “We are particularly pleased to announce that Formula 1 is returning to race in the Netherlands, at the Zandvoort track. From the beginning of our tenure in Formula 1, we said we wanted to race in new venues, while also respecting the sport’s historic roots in Europe. Next season therefore, we will have a brand new street race that will be held in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi, as well the return to Zandvoort, after an absence of 35 yearsa track that has contributed to the popularity of the sport all over the world. In recent years, we’ve seen a resurgence of interest in Formula 1 in Holland, mainly due to the enthusiastic support for the talented Max Verstappen, as seen from the sea of orange at so many races. No doubt this will be the dominant colour in the Zandvoort grandstands next year.”
Jean Todt, President of the FIA, said: “I am pleased to see that Zandvoort will be part of the proposed calendar for the 2020 FIA Formula One World Championship, and thankful for the hard work of Formula 1 to bring the sport back to the Netherlands. It is a circuit with a long and impressive history of competition and is a great challenge for drivers, and with the popularity of Max Verstappen I’m sure there will be a huge number of fans in attendance. There is now a lot of preparation needed to bring the circuit up to the required safety standards to host a Formula 1 race, and we will work towards this together with Formula 1, KNAF – the Dutch ASN – and the circuit organisation.”
Jan Lammers, DGP Sporting Director, said: “The Zandvoort Circuit is legendary and known worldwide and we’re delighted to see it host a round of the FIA Formula One World Championship once again. To meet the wishes of Formula 1 and the required standards of the FIA the circuit and infrastructure will be modernized within a few areas, with the work completed well ahead of the race in 2020. In addition, the municipality of Zandvoort has recently invested heavily to improve access to the municipality and the circuit.”
