The Dutch GP at Zandvoort is one of the latest additions to the F1 calendar. However, current CEO Stefano Domenicali feels like it has been here for 30 years already. The Italian believes this is because of the spectacle that the promoters have managed to create. The raucous crowd is also boosted in numbers because of the success of a certain Max Verstappen.
Stefano Domenicali and the F1 bosses are extremely happy with the way the Dutch GP has become a spectacle. It’s broken away from the vibes of a traditional European race. The track is small and the facilities at the track are old. However, they make up for it with their music, their energy, and their passion.
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Having a local lad as the current dominant force in F1 helps their enthusiasm. The music and the dancing at the Dutch GP is infectious, says Domenicali. He compares the atmosphere at Zandvoort to that of a football stadium.
Commitment by the Promoters
As already discussed, the event would have been sold out each year due to Max Verstappen himself. And there is no public money involved here. According to Stefano Domenicali, the promoters could have easily cashed in on the hype around him. However, they chose to go the extra mile. They chose to promote the event in their unique way, and it seems to work.
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The Dutch cycling culture meant that the Dutch GP is hitting extremely lofty sustainability figures. This is another reason why the F1 shareholders are happy. Zandvoort posed a unique challenge because it couldn’t be lengthened for modern F1 due to the sea. This led to the introduction of the banked turns which were an immediate hit. F1 has already planned to replicate these turns in other circuits.
Stefano Domenicali says Zandvoort has proved that an old track can still make its place in Formula 1. In an era where it’s becoming increasingly difficult to balance the new and the old, Zandvoort embraces both.
