Major Formula One race is AXED to spark ‘greatest hero’ Max Verstappen retirement fears
Max Verstappen has been given his strongest reason yet to retire early after his home race was scrapped from the Formula 1 calendar. The four-time world champion has repeatedly hinted he could walk from F1 soon and now the Dutch Grand Prix will be no more. Verstappen was joined by his partner Kelly Piquet and his sister Victoria Jane in QatarGetty The Belgian-born driver, who races under the Netherlands flag, has wrapped up his fourth successive title after a record 24-race season. Verstappen’s continued dominance has naturally sparked an explosion of motorsport popularity in his home country. Last year, over 300,000 fans attended the Dutch Grand Prix to watch him triumph, but organisers have struggled to finance the event. F1 have now confirmed a one-year extension has been agreed with the Circuit Zandvoort promoter before it drops off the grid in 2026. Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1‘s president and CEO, said: “I am incredibly grateful for the work that the team at the Dutch Grand Prix have done in recent years. “All parties positively collaborated to find a solution to extend the race, with many options, including alternation or annual events on the table, and we respect the decision from the promoter to finish its amazing run in 2026.” Robert van Overdijk, Director of the Dutch Grand Prix, said: “We are a privately owned and operated business, and we must balance the opportunities presented by continuing to host the event, against other risks and responsibilities. We have decided to go out on a high with two more incredible Dutch Grands Prix in 2025 and 2026.” The Zandvoort track, which intermittently held F1 Grand Prix from 1950 through 1985, returned in 2021 after a 36-year absence. The penultimate edition of the Dutch Grand Prix will be staged from August 29 – 31 2025, with the final one taking the Sprint format. Verstappen dominated the first three editions after his home race was restored to the calendar before Lando Norris won this year. Verstappen is a national hero when he returns to ZandvoortGetty The ‘Orange Army’ have been out in force since the Dutch GP returned to F1Getty Zandvoort director Van Overdijk admitted a concern was whether the enthusiasm of Verstappen’s Orange army would drop off. He also revealed the event turned down offers from F1 to continue after 2026 – at which point Verstappen may have left Red Bull. “There were several options on the table to continue. We could rotate with other circuits, there were also options to continue annually,” Van Overdijk told NOS. “We made a lot of considerations and this is the outcome. “In the end, it is only our choice. Maybe the F1 top brass is surprised, but they certainly respect and understand us. They know how we have to work. “You might say: if it’s successful, you just keep going, right? But it’s a message from strength. We are going out with a bang. Of course, it also gives a wistful feeling, but most of all we are proud. Verstappen dropped further retirement hints after winning his fourth titleGetty He was lauded above Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, and Fanny Blankers-Koen “In 2026, we will close an iconic era in Dutch sports history. Max Verstappen has of course been the big trigger in that. As far as I am concerned, the greatest Dutch sports hero ever. “Let’s especially enjoy that there are two more race weekends coming up.” “Max now has four world titles. He has won Zandvoort three times,” van Overdijk added. “Of course, you can wait for a moment when the enthusiasm wanes, but that doesn’t suit us.” “Things could also turn out differently [had the Dutch GP contract been extended to 2028]. Maybe Verstappen will be driving with a different team in 2026. Then it will be a special final edition altogether.” Verstappen signed a long-term contract extension with Red Bull two years ago that keeps him tied down until 2028. However, he was strongly linked with a move to Mercedes this year – with the 27-year-old also dropping hints over an early retirement. Verstappen said to The Times last week: “I would like to do other stuff in life, you only live once. I want to spend time with my family, friends, travel the world, see different places — not always do the same thing. “When you’re doing stuff, like very repetitive, it can get a bit boring at one point. but at the moment, it’s still not. I’m enjoying it, and I love what I’m doing. “I want to do endurance as well, all the big 24-hour races. it’s much more racing, and less hectic.” Verstappen was finally beaten to the top step in Zandvoort in AugustGetty Verstappen also recently cited his row with the FIA over his community service punishment for swearing as a reason to hang up his helmet. “I mean, these kinds of things definitely decide my future as well,” he said at the Singapore Grand Prix. “You can’t be yourself or you have to
Max Verstappen has been given his strongest reason yet to retire early after his home race was scrapped from the Formula 1 calendar.
The four-time world champion has repeatedly hinted he could walk from F1 soon and now the Dutch Grand Prix will be no more.
The Belgian-born driver, who races under the Netherlands flag, has wrapped up his fourth successive title after a record 24-race season.
Verstappen’s continued dominance has naturally sparked an explosion of motorsport popularity in his home country.
Last year, over 300,000 fans attended the Dutch Grand Prix to watch him triumph, but organisers have struggled to finance the event.
F1 have now confirmed a one-year extension has been agreed with the Circuit Zandvoort promoter before it drops off the grid in 2026.
Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1‘s president and CEO, said: “I am incredibly grateful for the work that the team at the Dutch Grand Prix have done in recent years.
“All parties positively collaborated to find a solution to extend the race, with many options, including alternation or annual events on the table, and we respect the decision from the promoter to finish its amazing run in 2026.”
Robert van Overdijk, Director of the Dutch Grand Prix, said: “We are a privately owned and operated business, and we must balance the opportunities presented by continuing to host the event, against other risks and responsibilities. We have decided to go out on a high with two more incredible Dutch Grands Prix in 2025 and 2026.”
The Zandvoort track, which intermittently held F1 Grand Prix from 1950 through 1985, returned in 2021 after a 36-year absence.
The penultimate edition of the Dutch Grand Prix will be staged from August 29 – 31 2025, with the final one taking the Sprint format.
Verstappen dominated the first three editions after his home race was restored to the calendar before Lando Norris won this year.
Zandvoort director Van Overdijk admitted a concern was whether the enthusiasm of Verstappen’s Orange army would drop off.
He also revealed the event turned down offers from F1 to continue after 2026 – at which point Verstappen may have left Red Bull.
“There were several options on the table to continue. We could rotate with other circuits, there were also options to continue annually,” Van Overdijk told NOS.
“We made a lot of considerations and this is the outcome.
“In the end, it is only our choice. Maybe the F1 top brass is surprised, but they certainly respect and understand us. They know how we have to work.
“You might say: if it’s successful, you just keep going, right? But it’s a message from strength. We are going out with a bang. Of course, it also gives a wistful feeling, but most of all we are proud.
“In 2026, we will close an iconic era in Dutch sports history. Max Verstappen has of course been the big trigger in that. As far as I am concerned, the greatest Dutch sports hero ever.
“Let’s especially enjoy that there are two more race weekends coming up.”
“Max now has four world titles. He has won Zandvoort three times,” van Overdijk added. “Of course, you can wait for a moment when the enthusiasm wanes, but that doesn’t suit us.”
“Things could also turn out differently [had the Dutch GP contract been extended to 2028]. Maybe Verstappen will be driving with a different team in 2026. Then it will be a special final edition altogether.”
Verstappen signed a long-term contract extension with Red Bull two years ago that keeps him tied down until 2028.
However, he was strongly linked with a move to Mercedes this year – with the 27-year-old also dropping hints over an early retirement.
Verstappen said to The Times last week: “I would like to do other stuff in life, you only live once. I want to spend time with my family, friends, travel the world, see different places — not always do the same thing.
“When you’re doing stuff, like very repetitive, it can get a bit boring at one point. but at the moment, it’s still not. I’m enjoying it, and I love what I’m doing.
“I want to do endurance as well, all the big 24-hour races. it’s much more racing, and less hectic.”
Verstappen also recently cited his row with the FIA over his community service punishment for swearing as a reason to hang up his helmet.
“I mean, these kinds of things definitely decide my future as well,” he said at the Singapore Grand Prix. “You can’t be yourself or you have to deal with these kinds of silly things.
“I think now, I’m at the stage of my career that you don’t want to be dealing with this all the time. It’s really tiring. Of course, it’s great to have success and win races.
“Once you have accomplished all that, winning championships and races, you want to just have a good time as well. Of course, everyone is pushing to the limit. Everyone in this battle, even at the back of the grid.
“But if you have to deal with all these kinds of silly things, for me, that is another way of [not] continuing in the sport.”
