Verstappen could be stripped of home Grand Prix despite being F1’s biggest star

Max Verstappen may be stripped of his home Grand Prix despite being Formula One's biggest star.

The second half of the F1 season gets underway this weekend after a month-long summer break. Hosting the 13th race of 2023 is the Netherlands’ legendary Zandvoort track, where Red Bull are expected to continue their dominant run of winning every Grand Prix this season.

Two-time world champion and current drivers’ championship leader Verstappen has dominated the last two editions of his home Grand Prix, much to the delight of the raucous ‘Orange Army’ crowd.

But the Red Bull driver could be set for heartbreak with Zandvoort potentially facing the axe after 2024, due to fierce competition from other countries hoping to get tracks on the calendar.

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Ex-F1 driver and current Dutch Grand Prix sporting director Jan Lammers told Viaplay: "Formula 1 Management knows what they want and we know what we want. If you see countries like Saudi Arabia committing to their Grand Prix for 900 million for ten years, we can’t take on that kind of competition."

The track has a long and storied history in F1, hosting races since the early 1950s before becoming a permanent fixture on the calendar from 1958 onwards. Noise pollution and outdated facilities saw the last 20th century race take place in 1985 before the rise of Verstappen led to its return in 2021.

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Zandvoort has since become one of the highlights of the racing calendar thanks to its vibrant atmosphere, with a sea of orange-wearing fans and smoke flares adding to its recognisable aesthetic. Its axing would come as a huge blow to F1 culture, with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali even highlighting its example of how live races should be supported.

Domenicali said (via Autosport): "I want to congratulate the Dutch promoter because, without disrespect to anyone, they brought a great fresh air to the European community.

"Despite the small track, and despite the old facilities, they brought a new way of having an incredible event: in terms of passionate people, in terms of sense of community, in terms of entertainment, in terms of music and in terms of energy."

He added: "The energy is pretty clear. They were the ones to be the first and say: look at the music, look at the way that all the people were dancing. It was something really spectacular. And it has been an example that has been used in other places immediately."

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