Formula 1 is heading back to Zandvoort for the final Dutch Grand Prix in 2026 — and this time, it really is goodbye. The Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix takes place from 21 to 23 August 2026, marking the last time the iconic seaside circuit will host a Formula 1 race. For fans of the sport and the venue alike, this is a weekend not to be missed.
Why Is the Final Dutch Grand Prix 2026 the Last?
Formula 1 and the Dutch Grand Prix promoter agreed a one-year contract extension in December 2024, keeping Circuit Zandvoort on the calendar through the 2026 season. However, the promoter — a collaboration between SportVibes, TIG Sports and Circuit Zandvoort — made the difficult decision not to continue beyond 2026. Director Robert van Overdijk explained: “We are a privately owned and operated business, and we must balance the opportunities presented by continuing to host the event against other risks and responsibilities. We have decided to go out on a high with two more incredible Dutch Grands Prix in 2025 and 2026.”
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, paid tribute to the event’s legacy: “They raised the bar for European Grands Prix in terms of event spectacle and entertainment, supported the development of young talent, and pioneered sustainable solutions that have inspired our events around the world.”
Lando Norris in action at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. The final edition takes place on 23 August 2026. Source: Formula 1 official website (formula1.com)
The Race Weekend Schedule and Sprint Format Debut
Adding to the occasion, the final Dutch Grand Prix will feature a Sprint for the first time in Zandvoort’s history. The full weekend runs as follows:
- Thursday 21 August: Practice 1 (10:30) and Sprint Qualifying (14:30)
- Friday 22 August: Sprint Race (10:00) and Qualifying (14:00)
- Sunday 23 August: Race (13:00)
With 72 laps around the 4.259-kilometre circuit — a race distance of 306.587 kilometres — expect tyre strategy and the famous banked corners at Hugenholtzbocht and Arie Luyendijkbocht to play a decisive role.
Zandvoort: A Circuit Built for the Ages
Originally opened in 1948, Circuit Zandvoort has hosted Formula 1 on and off since 1952, when Alberto Ascari led a Ferrari 1-2-3 on debut. The circuit snakes through the sand dunes of the Dutch coast, just 30 minutes by train from Amsterdam, with its undulating layout and rollercoaster-like feel making it one of the most beloved on the calendar. The 2021 renovation introduced an 18-degree banking angle at the famous Tarzan corner — surpassing the banking at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The Dutch Grand Prix’s return in 2021 coincided perfectly with the era of Max Verstappen. The Dutch world champion has won his home race three times, in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and was crowned world champion in each of the four years the race has been held in its modern revival. The atmosphere — an unmissable sea of orange — is like nothing else on the F1 calendar.
Kimi Antonelli leads the 2026 F1 World Drivers Championship heading into the final Dutch GP at Zandvoort. Source: Formula 1 official website (formula1.com)
The 2026 Championship Battle at Zandvoort
After F1’s summer break, all eyes are on Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), who leads the 2026 World Drivers Championship and will be determined to extend his advantage at Zandvoort. The young Italian has been the dominant force of the 2026 season, but Lewis Hamilton’s stunning Spanish Grand Prix victory for Ferrari showed the championship is far from settled. Lando Norris and McLaren — who won the 2025 Dutch GP before Norris retired from the lead — will also be hungry to get back on the podium at a circuit that suits their car.
Verstappen, meanwhile, will carry the enormous emotional weight of the occasion on his shoulders. For the local hero, who has made Zandvoort his own, Sunday 23 August represents a final chance to win on home soil in Formula 1.
The Legacy of Zandvoort
From Gilles Villeneuve’s legendary three-wheeled lap in 1979 to Verstappen’s dominant home victories, Circuit Zandvoort has given Formula 1 some of its most memorable moments. The circuit even starred in John Frankenheimer’s classic 1966 film Grand Prix. Its closure to the calendar after 2026 marks the end of a remarkable chapter for Dutch motorsport and for Formula 1 in Europe.
For fans travelling to the event or watching from Singapore, this is a weekend of pure Formula 1 theatre. Do not look away.
Catch up on our Dutch Grand Prix 2026 race preview and the F1 championship standings ahead of the summer break. Follow all motorsport news in our Sports section.
