Dutch GP in pictures as F1 prepares for Zandvoort farewell
Zandvoort's Final Lap: A Visual Retrospective of the Dutch Grand Prix
Ninoda.com – This weekend marks the end of an era at one of motorsport's most storied circuits. Formula 1 bids farewell to the Dutch Grand Prix, concluding its brief modern run at Zandvoort before the event vanishes from the calendar entirely. Since the race re-entered the schedule in 2021 — following a 36-year hiatus — the seaside venue has been wreathed in orange smoke, with capacity crowds rallying behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen in overwhelming numbers.
Yet popularity alone could not sustain the operation. Organisers concluded the event was financially unviable and chose not to extend its presence in the sport. Before the lights go out for good, a curated selection of photographs traces the Dutch Grand Prix's long history, stretching back to its inaugural F1 running in 1952.
The Early Years: Clark, Hill, and McLaren
In 1963, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, and Bruce McLaren led the field away from the grid at the start. Two seasons later, Clark piloted his Lotus through the 1965 edition, en route to the third of his record four victories at the circuit.
By 1969, photographers were already taking risks at the circuit's most notorious corner. One brave soul positioned himself on the inside of Tarzan to capture the start of that year's race.
Tragedy at the Seaside
Zandvoort has also been the stage for heartbreak. British drivers Piers Courage and Roger Williamson both lost their lives in accidents at the circuit, in 1970 and 1973 respectively. On the day she would lose her husband, Sally Courage sat reading a novel — a quiet moment frozen in time before catastrophe.
Hesketh's Lone Triumph
James Hunt claimed his maiden F1 victory at the 1975 Dutch Grand Prix, the sole win ever recorded by the privateer Hesketh team. The outfit, famous for its "work hard, play hard" ethos, campaigned in patriotic red, white, and blue. The team's principal figures, pictured together, included founder Lord Alexander Hesketh, Hunt himself, team manager Anthony "Bubbles" Horsley, and designer Harvey Postlethwaite.
1977: Lauda, Andretti, and Hunt Collide
Ferrari's Niki Lauda — the eventual race winner — and Lotus' Mario Andretti ran side by side through the 1977 contest. In another frame from that same event, McLaren's Hunt and Andretti tangled while contesting the lead, with the Briton eliminated on the spot. A few photographers in the lower-right corner of the image appear to have their attention directed elsewhere entirely.
Villeneuve's Turbulent Years
In 1979, Gilles Villeneuve's left rear wheel dangled precariously from his Ferrari after a punctured tyre spun him out of the lead. He managed to limp back to the pits, but the accumulated damage ended his race. The footage of the Canadian wrestling with his stricken car remains among the most replayed moments of his career.
Two years later, Villeneuve spun off at Tarzan in another escapade during the 1981 edition.
Arnoux's Passenger Seat
Spectators scrambled for cover when Rene Arnoux crashed at Tarzan in 1982. A wheel detached from his Renault on the approach to the corner, effectively turning the Frenchman into a passenger for the remainder of the incident. He emerged unhurt.
Lauda's Final Victory
In 1985, Niki Lauda led McLaren team-mate Alain Prost to what would prove the three-time world champion's last F1 win. It was also the final Dutch Grand Prix for 36 years.
The Modern Era: Verstappen and the Orange Flares
When the race returned to the calendar in 2021, Dutch fans greeted Red Bull's Max Verstappen with showers of orange flares. The home hero went on to win that race on his way to a first world championship title. He subsequently claimed victory in the first three editions at Zandvoort following the event's revival, including the 2022 race.
Dunes, Smoke, and a Borrowed Phone
The sand dunes flanking the track create a viewing experience closer to golf's Open Championship than to a conventional F1 race. In 2024, Logan Sargeant leapt from his smoking Williams after crashing in final practice, sustaining extensive damage that ruled him out of qualifying. Williams released him the following week.
After retiring from the 2025 race, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc sat for a spell atop a sand dune, awaiting a lift back to the pits. To pass the time, he borrowed a photographer's mobile phone.
The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort: a circuit of triumph, tragedy, and now, departure.
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