Fotograaf Chris Schotanus

F1 News

Does the Dutch Grand Prix cause problems in Belgium? 'You can't escape that'

11 November 2020 at 09:08
Last update 11 November 2020 at 09:42
  • GPblog.com

The Dutch Grand Prix will be held in September instead of May in 2021 and this could well have an impact on the Belgian Grand Prix. Are fans still going to Spa-Francorchamps?

In 2020, the first Formula 1 race in 35 years was due to be held at the Zandvoort circuit, but this was postponed by a year due to the coronavirus. Now, however, Zandvoort has a place on the 2021 calendar in September and this may well be at the expense of Spa-Francorchamps, which organises the Belgian Grand Prix a week before.

Zandvoort versus Spa-Francorchamps

''We understand that our colleagues at the Dutch GP do not want to organise in May, that would be too much risk. We talk to each other regularly, we are all colleagues and 2021 will be an exception. They no longer have tickets to sell before 2021, it should not be a competitor'', says Stijn de Boever of Spa-Francorchamps according to Formule1.nl.

According to Jan Lammers, there is no escape from competition within Europe these days. ''Due to the comfort of the car and how flying has become so advantageous over the years, there is no escaping the fact that all European Grands Prix are a threat to each other in that sense'', according to the sports director of Zandvoort. De Boever is not worried and even proposes an offer. ''Maybe we can make a special offer, now that it is so close to each other in terms of time and distance.''