Zandvoort OFF is F1's loss | Max Verstappen's last home race with the Orange Army | 2026 Dutch GP

**SPEAKER_1** (0:01)
This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required, compatibility and availability varies 18 plus.

**Soumil Arora** (0:26)
All right, summer break is over for Formula 1 We are back racing this weekend with a bit of a somber note because this is going to be the last Dutch Grand Prix. We have no idea when Formula 1 will be back here at the legendary Zandvoort.
This is basically it. This is the last time Max Verstappen could have a home race if he stays in Formula 1 from here on. The Dutch GP is not even on a rotational contract. It's actually bowing out. Other circuits like Catalonia and Spa are going to be on rotation. Zandvoort, the great banked circuit, Kunal, where we've seen some incredible races, some really tight overtakes because there's barely any space, and honestly, the most memorable thing of all, the passionate Dutch fans. We're going to lose out on a big part of the Formula 1 culture here by losing out on Zandvoort.

**Kunal Shah** (1:14)
Yeah. I mean, here are two things that I would wish could happen. One which is already happening is those passionate Dutch fans traveling to other races. We see them in Austria, we see them in Belgium, by the way, which is also Max's other home race. He's half Belgian. As Kimi Antonelli found out in Spa, if you remember, he just got to qualifying when he got here. He's like, oh, you're half Belgian. And Max is like, I am. And then you're like, even Norris is, but Antonelli was not interested in Norris' nationalities.

**Soumil Arora** (1:43)
Yeah, I know.

**Kunal Shah** (1:46)
So it's all down to that.
So that's one, which is the passionate Dutch fans coming to other races. But that Turn 3, can we take that Turn 3 and put it everywhere else we can?

**Soumil Arora** (1:58)
Exactly.

**Kunal Shah** (2:00)
And I just love it. So, you know, again, it's one of those facts which we've said every year that Zandvoort has been around, that it's designed by the same designer who designed Suzuka.

**Soumil Arora** (2:11)
Exactly.

**Kunal Shah** (2:11)
No wonder it's old school, fast flowing, drivers love it, narrow, limited overtaking opportunities, but breathtaking corners. And to me, the bummer is not that they're leaving Formula One. Fine, it's a decision they took to join a few years ago and Max's popularity was rising. I think it was very well timed.

**Soumil Arora** (2:31)
Yeah.

**Kunal Shah** (2:32)
I don't know if this is a precursor to them knowing a few things. They're okay, Max has hit his peak. This is probably the best we're going to have. Let's not fall on to things, which is a very Max thing also. Right. I'm at the peak. I might just leave tomorrow. I have four, you know, drivers championship titles.

**Soumil Arora** (2:45)
It's a very Dutch way of doing things.

**Kunal Shah** (2:47)
I mean, that's generalized, but yeah.

**Soumil Arora** (2:49)
But they're very direct with things. They're very direct. They'll be straight to the point. No faffing.

**Kunal Shah** (2:54)
Well, welcome to Norway, because I think we're more direct out here as well. But maybe it's just the Dutch and the Norwegians, at least believe there's a lot of common language, words, a lot of common culture.
We'll leave that for another day. But my point was, Turn 3 should just be everywhere, given how beautiful a corner it is. Like I was saying, I'm not disappointed that they're dropping Formula One.
I know that they're dropping Formula One to go chase IndyCar and NASCAR racists. I mean, it just baffles me.

**Soumil Arora** (3:28)
Exactly. And that's awesome. I love that. This is how good of a circuit Zandvoort is. We probably forgot about it in the top tier of motor racing circuits for a few years because it was nowhere close to Formula One. But now you've got to put Zandvoort and Imola back in the conversation. They are multi-purpose, beautiful, flowy circuits that challenge you. And passing here is going to be tight because as Kunal mentioned, that Turn 3, while it reminds you of the Speed Racer movie, you can't really pass over there. And you have that long bank final corner, which is also kind of like a Hot Wheels ramp, where you're just gaining momentum. So the only real place to do so is Turn Number One or at the chicane that you get in the final sector, which is a very tight place where people can nudge their way. They have, I'm not saying it works, but we have lighter and shorter cars this time that are narrower to Kunal, so maybe it can.