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Zandvoort F1 news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Lando Norris took pole for the Dutch Grand Prix, the circuit's final F1 race. The race marks Zandvoort's farewell after 2026, with Verstappen's home crowd in full voice.
Background
The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort returned to the F1 calendar in 2021, largely due to Max Verstappen's popularity. In December 2024, F1 announced the race would leave the schedule after 2026, with a one-year extension for this final event. The race director cited high risks and responsibilities of hosting a modern F1 race, and the event is seen as a farewell to a beloved circuit.
How it unfolded
- Fri, Aug 21, 2026Kimi Antonelli was fastest in practice, setting a 1m12.949s lap, ahead of Lando Norris.
- Sat, Aug 22, 2026George Russell won the sprint race, cutting his championship deficit to Antonelli to 56 points. Later, Lando Norris took pole for the grand prix, ahead of Russell and Antonelli.
- Sun, Aug 23, 2026The Dutch Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 2pm BST, with Norris on pole and the circuit's final F1 race underway.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Dutch GP director Robert van Overdijk said they are intentionally ending on a high note after weighing the risks and responsibilities of hosting a modern-day F1 race.
- Public
- Fans, especially the 'Orange Army', are in full voice supporting Max Verstappen on home soil for possibly the final time in his career.