Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has named Max Verstappen as the “real reason” the Dutch Grand Prix was reinstated in 2021.
Having been held at Circuit Zandvoort since 1950, the Dutch Grand Prix was axed from the Formula 1 calendar back in 1985 and seemed unlikely to return, until it was historically revived in 2021 after a 35-year hiatus.
Verstappen’s win upon its return in the ‘21 season marked the first time a Dutch driver had won or even reached the podium at their home race.
However, the revival of the Dutch GP is looking to be short-lived, with the race after the summer break representing the final one in the Netherlands before its contract runs out at the end of the 2026 season.
Several industry figures have credited the return of the Dutch GP to the growing popularity of home hero Verstappen, with Dutch fans eager to see their countryman in the midst of a close-knit title fight.
“The real reason is Max,” said Ecclestone. “Without Max, it wouldn’t have happened. There are many things that can make something special.
“He makes that race special because he’s pretty special himself. It brought some glamour to that track. At least, that’s how it seemed.”
“Rising hero” Max Verstappen made Dutch GP return possible
Robert van Overdijk, director of Circuit Zandvoort, echoed the sentiment, stating that the Dutch GP would’ve almost certainly not returned had it not been for Verstappen.
“As far as timing goes, everything fell into place,” he said. “It all starts with the fact that you have a hero.
“Everything can be traced back to that. If that rising hero hadn’t been there, we would never have sat down at the table with Formula 1.”
Van Overdijk went on to say that the return of the Dutch GP was nothing short of historic, with Verstappen’s title charge making way for a number of opportunities for the country as a whole.
“Thanks to Max’s rise, by bringing a number of parties together and securing several title sponsors around that—who dared to make decisions based on a story with soft elements, passion, and emotion—that was a unique moment in Dutch sports history,” Van Overdijk concluded.
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