F1 Tracks: Circuit Zandvoort - Dutch Grand Prix

Nestled in the sand dunes on the north coast of the Netherlands, the Circuit Zandvoort has become a fan-favourite since returning to the Formula 1 calendar in 2021 after a 36-year hiatus.

The track has undergone transformative changes since the first Grand Prix held there in 1950, with new pits and an Armco lining providing protection from the surrounding sand dunes.

Despite the extensive redevelopment, Circuit Zandvoort is still characterised by a series of fast corners, with the heavily-cambered ‘Tarzan’ corner at the end of the pit straight being the most recognisable of the 14 turns.

What	Dutch Grand Prix
Where	Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, Netherlands
When	Friday, 25th August - Sunday, 27th August
How to watch	Sky Sports F1

Where is Circuit Zandvoort?

The Circuit Zandvoort is located a short distance north of the small town of Zandvoort, which is one of the major beach resorts in the Netherlands and just 40km west of Amsterdam.

When was Circuit Zandvoort first built?

Plans for Circuit Zandvoort were in place before World War II and small street races were held in the area in the late 1930s, but a permanent race track was not built until the 1940s, with the first race taking place in August 1948 on roads built by the German army during their occupation.

How long is Circuit Zandvoort?

While the track itself has undergone significant changes during its 75-year history, the overall length has remained fairly constant, with the current iteration measuring 4.259km, or 2.646 miles.

When did Circuit Zandvoort first host an F1 race?

The first official Formula 1 race at Circuit Zandvoort was in 1955, although it did host the Dutch Grand Prix in 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1953.

The 1950 debut was the first race at Circuit Zandvoort to be opened to Formula 1 cars but it was not yet part of the Formula 1 season, with that and the following year’s event both being won by Louis Rosier.

The 1952 Dutch Grand Prix was the first to be included in the Formula 1 World Championship but, after a decision to run all Grands Prix counting towards the 1952 World Championship of Drivers to Formula 2 regulations, this and the 1953 instalment are both classified as Formula 2 races in the history books, with both being won by the Ferrari of Alberto Ascari.

The first official Formula 1 race at Circuit Zandvoort, in 1955, was won by Mercedes driver Juan Manuel Fangio.

Who has won the most F1 races at Circuit Zandvoort?

Double world champion Jim Clark won four times around Circuit Zandvoort, triumphing in 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1967.

Another British driver, Jackie Stewart, has won the Dutch Grand Prix three times (1968, 1969 and 1973), with the Scot sharing joint-second place with the late, great Niki Lauda (1974, 1977 and 1985).

The only driver currently on the grid to have won at Circuit Zandvoort is Max Verstappen, who has won his home Grand Prix in both years since its reinstatement to the Formula 1 calendar.

What is the F1 lap record at Circuit Zandvoort?

Max Verstappen holds the current lap record at Circuit Zandvoort with a 1min 8.885sec qualifying time in the 2021 Dutch Grand Prix, but it is rival Lewis Hamilton who has the fastest racing lap on record, clocking a 1min 11.097sec time on the final lap of the 2021 Dutch Grand Prix.

Does Circuit Zandvoort host any other events?

Circuit Zandvoort holds a host of other events throughout the year, including the GT World Challenge Europe, the Porsche Supercup, the Supercar Challenge, the Formula Regional European Championship, the GB3 Championship and the Renault Clio Cup Europe.

The Formula 2 Championship also makes a stop at Circuit Zandvoort, coinciding with the Formula 1 event at the end of August, while fans of the ‘golden era’ of Formula 1 can catch cars of time gone by race around Circuit Zandvoort in the FIA Masters Historic Formula 1 Championship.

What is the weather like at Circuit Zandvoort?

Zandvoort experiences the mild climate typical to European coastal towns, with relatively amenable temperatures even in the hottest months of the year.

Due to its coastal geography, wind can be a factor and there is a higher-than-average chance of rain, with one in every three days in August - when this year’s Dutch Grand Prix is scheduled - experiencing at least some precipitation. 

That being said, rain did not disrupt any session in the Dutch Grand Prix in either 2021 or 2022.