F1 News
Brundle baffled by 'old-fashioned' Zandvoort circuit after Dutch GP
- Jeroen Immink
Former Formula One driver Martin Brundle was at Circuit Zandvoort for the first time since the Dutch Grand Prix returned. In his traditional column for Sky Sports, The Briton called the circuit in the dunes "old-fashioned" and expressed surprise. In addition, Brundle did say that a number of corners give a lot of character to the Dutch circuit.
Brundle calls Circuit Zandvoort 'old-fashioned'
Brundle - who has raced at Zandvoort himself - was surprised when he first arrived at the revamped Zandvoort circuit. "On the subject of the track, because of the way my 16-race-per-season schedule has fallen, this is the first time I've attended Zandvoort since it returned to the calendar in 2021. We all know the reason there's been big demand for a Dutch GP, but when wandering the circuit for Sky Sports F1 in Practice Two on Friday afternoon it surprised me how old school it is out there," Brundle revealed.
"I know the track well from racing F1 there in the 1980s but the grip, speed and mass of the latest cars will challenge a few of those barriers with the wrong accident, and there are no service roads in places, making car recovery difficult," he added.
Brundle also sees positives about Zandvoort
Nevertheless, Brundle does praise some elements of the circuit in the seaside resort. "But that's the same at street circuits and the old school nature does throw up some unique challenges. The banking in turns one Tarzan, three Hugenholtz and the final corner definitely add some character," the Brit concluded.
It remains to be seen whether Zandvoort will remain on the Formula 1 calendar beyond 2025. Recently, Jan Lammers exclusively explained to GPblog the expectations for the Dutch Grand Prix in the coming years. "We have obviously been able to start this Dutch Grand Prix in the euphoria and enthusiasm of Max. People have been to the race three, four or five times, for example, and may just decide they are going to do something else this year. Those are all shifts and that would be at the expense of ticket sales," Lammers said.
This article has been written in collaboration with Matt Gretton
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