Lewis Hamilton has expressed his sadness over the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort being removed from the Formula 1 calendar after 2026. The English driver is disappointed, as this means an iconic circuit “with a fantastic fan base” will disappear.
The Mercedes driver made these comments on Thursday, in the lead-up to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “It’s a real shame that we’re losing Zandvoort, just look at the crowds there over the past few years. They’ve been incredible. There are so many fans there every year, of course, because of Max Verstappen. But that’s valuable, as fans make the sport what it is.”
Hamilton often misses this unique aspect of Zandvoort at other circuits. “And I don’t need to name names, but there are plenty of Grands Prix without that kind of enthusiastic fans. But those circuits remain on the calendar. Of course, I understand that a race needs to be financially viable, but we also need to keep an eye on the heritage of our sport.
