The Dutch Grand Prix will fall off the Formula 1 calendar after 2026.
A one-year contract extension to host the race at the Zandvoort track, which returned to the schedule in 2021 after a 36-year absence, has been signed to ensure there will be two more events.
The track, in a holiday town on the North Sea coast, had been struggling to make the event work financially despite sell-out crowds attending to support Max Verstappen.
The Red Bull driver won the first three races after Zandvoort returned to the calendar, before McLaren’s Lando Norris triumphed this year.
Dutch Grand Prix director Robert van Overdijk 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. We wanted to take this step while our event is adored and supported by passionate fans, residents, and the Formula 1 community.”
The race will be held on 29-31 August in 2025. The 2026 schedule has not been confirmed but F1 announced that Zandvoort’s last grand prix would be a ‘sprint’, with a shorter race on the Saturday before the main event on Sunday.
F1 president and chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali said: “The Dutch Grand Prix has raised the bar for European Grands Prix in terms of event spectacle and entertainment, supported the development of young talent by hosting F2, F3 and our F1 Academy series, and have also pioneered sustainable solutions that have inspired our events around the world as we drive towards being net zero by 2030.
“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.”
The loss of the race from the calendar eases some of the fixture congestion F1 was facing in forthcoming years.
There has been talk of rotating some of the European races so they take place every other year to ensure every country that wants a grand prix can be accommodated.
F1 is seeking to expand into Africa, and is holding talks with Rwanda about an event near Kigali.
And Madrid will make its debut on the calendar in 2026, taking over the Spanish Grand Prix from Barcelona, which is still in talks about retaining an event.
Consideration had been given to rotating the Netherlands and Belgium, but the Spa-Francorchamps circuit wants to continue to host a race every year.
