Jan Lammers, the Dutch GP boss and former Formula 1 driver, has confessed that the future of the Dutch Grand Prix within the Formula 1 grid remains uncertain.
The current contract for Zandvoort’s race will expire after next year, and Lammers acknowledges that negotiations with Formula One Management (FOM) might prove challenging.
“FOM knows what they want and we know what we want,” he stated to Viaplay, anticipating the upcoming event this weekend.
“When you see countries like Saudi Arabia committing 900 million for ten years to their grand prix, we can’t compete with that,” he accepted.
Kees van de Grint, previously an engineer for Bridgestone and Ferrari in F1, believes that it would be absurd if Zandvoort were removed from the calendar due to financial demands.
“Money shouldn’t be the most important thing,” he emphasized. “When I see what the Dutch have created, it’s unique.”
Protests related to climate change and disagreements with taxi drivers have also surfaced around the 2023 Dutch GP, reflecting the event’s high profile and complex logistics.
“It’s a bit of a tricky situation,” Lammers noted, referring to the disputes and the broader challenges of hosting such an event.
“We don’t always want it, but you have to deal with it,” he concluded.
