Max Verstappen credited as key factor in Dutch Grand Prix return

Former Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone said Max Verstappen was “the real reason” the Dutch Grand Prix was reinstated at Circuit Zandvoort in 2021 after a 35‑year absence. Ecclestone added that Verstappen’s popularity and his win at the 2021 home race brought glamour and commercial interest to the event.

Circuit Zandvoort director Robert van Overdijk echoed the view, noting that without a national hero the negotiations to bring the race back would not have succeeded. The revived Dutch GP is scheduled to run until the end of the 2026 contract, with the post‑summer race this year expected to be the final one in the Netherlands.

The revival is seen as a historic moment for Dutch motorsport, linking Verstappen’s title challenge with broader opportunities for the country’s sporting profile.