The Final Lap: Norris wins the provisional last Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort
Some Grands Prix are bigger than just the result. The Dutch Grand Prix 2026 was one of them.
From August 21 to 23, Formula 1 touched down at Circuit Zandvoort for what was, for now, the last time. After six modern editions, this brought an end to a special chapter in Dutch motorsport history. The organization therefore gave the farewell weekend an apt name: The Final Lap.
Once more, the dunes turned orange. Once more, tens of thousands of Dutch and international race fans flocked to the coast. And once more, Max Verstappen had the chance to race in a Formula 1 Grand Prix in front of his home crowd.
Unfortunately, there was no fairy-tale farewell for Verstappen. The Dutchman crashed early in the race and saw his last home race end prematurely. Meanwhile, a great duel unfolded at the front between Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli, with Norris ultimately coming out on top.
After 72 laps, the McLaren driver became the winner of the last Dutch Grand Prix of this era.
The Final Lap: saying goodbye to six special years
Formula 1 and Zandvoort, of course, have a history that goes much further back than 2021. The first official Dutch Grand Prix for the World Championship was already held in 1952 and won by Alberto Ascari. Until 1985, Zandvoort was regularly on the calendar, after which it took no less than 36 years before Formula 1 actually returned.
That return finally came in 2021.
And the scenario could hardly have been more perfect: Max Verstappen took pole position and won in front of an entirely orange-colored circuit.
What followed were six modern editions in which Zandvoort grew into one of the most recognizable events on the calendar. Verstappen won in 2021, 2022, and 2023, Lando Norris in 2024, Oscar Piastri in 2025, and finally Norris again in 2026.
That 2026 would be the last edition had been decided since late 2024. The organization extended the contract one more time and then chose to stop after 2026. This allowed them to consciously work towards one big farewell.
And many people wanted to be there: spread across Thursday to Sunday, a record number of 325,000 visitors ultimately came to Zandvoort.
Russell starts strong with Sprint victory
For the first time during the last Dutch GP weekend, a Formula 1 Sprint was also on the program.
George Russell had an excellent start to the weekend. The Mercedes driver took pole for the Sprint and managed to convert that starting position into victory on Saturday morning.
Charles Leclerc kept him under pressure throughout the short race and ultimately finished just 1.360 seconds behind Russell. Lando Norris completed the podium, followed by Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri.
Max Verstappen had to settle for sixth position.
For the Dutch fans, the big question therefore remained unanswered: could Verstappen still show something special during the actual Grand Prix?
Norris takes pole for the last Dutch GP
During qualifying on Saturday, McLaren held the best cards.
Lando Norris drove the fastest lap with 1:11.163, securing pole position. George Russell continued his strong weekend with P2, while Kimi Antonelli put the second Mercedes in third starting place.
Behind them followed Oscar Piastri, Lewis Hamilton, and Charles Leclerc.
Verstappen could not get further than seventh place. This meant a considerable challenge awaited him for his last home race.
The race: a nightmare for Verstappen
Norris got away well at the start and maintained the lead, but the opening phase did not last long.
Already on the first lap, everything went completely wrong for Max Verstappen. The Dutchman lost the rear of his Red Bull and crashed hard into the wall. The car was heavily damaged, and race control decided to stop the race with a red flag.
Fortunately, Verstappen was able to report himself that he was unharmed.
But his race was over.
It was a particularly painful moment.
Precisely the driver who was largely responsible for the enormous popularity of Formula 1 in the Netherlands and indirectly also for Zandvoort's return, saw his last home Grand Prix for the time being end after only a few minutes.
After three victories at Zandvoort between 2021 and 2023, his last appearance in front of the famous Sea of Orange thus came to an abrupt end.
Antonelli seizes his chance at the restart
After the debris was cleared, the race was restarted.
Kimi Antonelli was particularly sharp.
The young Italian got away excellently and overtook Norris to take the lead. Antonelli then managed to build a small margin, while Norris remained within reach.
Behind them, Piastri overtook Russell, and Ferrari also began to assert itself more emphatically in the battle at the front.
The race slowly turned into a strategic battle between Mercedes and McLaren. The differences were small, and every pit stop could be decisive.
During the first important series of stops, Antonelli maintained his advantage. However, Norris remained close, and as the second stint progressed, the McLaren clearly began to close in.
Norris hunts down Antonelli
After the next pit stops, Antonelli once again had some breathing room, but Norris quickly closed the gap.
The Mercedes driver, meanwhile, began to struggle more and more with his rear tires. Norris sensed his opportunity and kept piling on the pressure.
On lap 52, the decisive attack came.
Norris put his McLaren alongside the Mercedes and passed Antonelli on the outside at the famous Tarzan corner. He retook the lead at one of Circuit Zandvoort's most iconic spots.
From that moment on, victory came closer and closer.
Yet the race was not entirely decided.
Late Virtual Safety Car gives Mercedes one more chance
In the closing stages, Esteban Ocon's Haas came to a halt, prompting a Virtual Safety Car.
Mercedes saw an opportunity.
Antonelli used the neutralization to get new tires, while Norris stayed out. This gave the Italian much fresher rubber in the final phase.
However, Antonelli returned to the track behind teammate Russell. Mercedes decided to swap positions to give the championship leader another chance to attack Norris.
But a real attack ultimately did not materialize.
Norris even managed to maintain sufficient pace on his older tires and built up a lead again.
Behind them, Russell was having a particularly hard time. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were right behind the Mercedes and fought for the third podium spot until the last lap.
Russell held his ground.
Norris wins The Final Lap
After 72 laps, the black-and-white checkered flag fell for the last time for the moment during a Formula 1 Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort.
Lando Norris crossed the finish line as the winner.
The Brit ultimately had an 11.536 second lead over Antonelli. Russell completed the podium, but kept Hamilton behind him by less than a second. Leclerc followed closely behind them.
The top five:
- P1 – Lando Norris – McLaren
- P2 – Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes
- P3 – George Russell – Mercedes
- P4 – Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari
- P5 – Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
For Norris, it was his second Grand Prix victory in a row after Hungary and his second win at Zandvoort. This meant he won in both 2024 and in the very last edition in 2026.
Afterwards, the farewell had an extra Dutch touch. King Willem-Alexander presented Norris with the winner's trophy, while Queen Máxima and Princess Alexia were also present. Later, Martin Garrix musically concluded the weekend.
A special chapter comes to an end
The strange thing is perhaps how normal the Dutch Grand Prix had come to feel in just six years.
Every summer, Zandvoort belonged to Formula 1. Trains full of fans heading to the coast, grandstands full of orange shirts, music in the dunes, and twenty Formula 1 cars flying through the banked corners of the circuit.
But it was never a given.
When Verstappen began his Formula 1 career, a Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort still seemed hardly realistic. Years later, he stood on the top step three times in a row, and the Sea of Orange became one of the most recognizable images of the event worldwide.
Now that chapter is temporarily closed.
Whether Formula 1 will ever return to Zandvoort, no one knows. The organization has at least consciously chosen to stop after 2026 and conclude the event at a high point.
Conclusion: The Final Lap has been driven
From a sporting perspective, the last Dutch Grand Prix was a race of extremes.
For Max Verstappen, his last home race ended in the wall on the opening lap. Kimi Antonelli seemed to be on his way to victory for a long time after the restart, but ultimately Lando Norris was simply too strong.
His overtaking maneuver on the outside at Tarzan became the decisive moment and ultimately made him the last winner of this era at Zandvoort.
But this Grand Prix will probably not only be remembered for the result.
Between 2021 and 2026, the Netherlands got something for six years that had seemed impossible for decades before: its own Formula 1 Grand Prix. Six weekends where the circuit between the dunes turned into a gigantic orange grandstand and Dutch race fans from all over the world were visible.
For now, we will no longer hear the sound of Formula 1 cars during a Grand Prix weekend through the dunes.
The Final Lap has been driven.
