As a substitute, what Zandvoort unleashed since its comeback was a imaginative and prescient of F1’s future: of a venue prepared to go the additional mile in delivering leisure and an thrilling package deal for followers that went far past simply what was taking place on observe.
In truth, Zandvoort has been praised by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali for delivering “recent air”, and serving to set a benchmark for what is predicted from fashionable period grand prix occasions.
“I wish to congratulate the Dutch promoter as a result of, with out disrespect to anybody, they introduced an awesome recent air to the European group,” defined Domenicali. “Regardless of the small observe, and regardless of the outdated services, they introduced a brand new means of getting an unbelievable occasion: when it comes to passionate folks, when it comes to sense of group, when it comes to leisure, when it comes to music and when it comes to power.”
Domenicali thinks that Zandvoort’s success has been balancing the suitable parts of leisure, sport and fan engagement, alongside an awesome ambiance fuelled by passionate followers all desirous to cheer on their residence hero Max Verstappen.
“The power is fairly clear,” he mentioned. “They had been those to be the primary and say: have a look at the music, have a look at the best way that every one the folks had been dancing. It was one thing actually spectacular. And it has been an instance that has been used somewhere else instantly.”
Domenicali thinks that Zandvoort captured an expertise that was precisely consistent with what F1 believes must be the usual for all grand prix venues.
“It was attention-grabbing as a result of it was completely aligned with our imaginative and prescient of getting occasions that should be completely different from place to put, and distinctive when it comes to the providing to the followers. It has been an unbelievable recent air coming into the system. Plainly we’ve been in Zandvoort for 30 years, however we’re solely there for 2 years! And to assume that already sooner or later, the tickets are bought out is spectacular.
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing RB18
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photos
“After all, you could say the Max impact is there, little question, and to see the orange military over there may be simply distinctive as they’ve introduced the spirit of a soccer stadium right into a motorsport enviornment, however we should not neglect that the promoter is a personal firm so there is no type of public cash.
“They had been those to consider within the undertaking, they had been those to place their cash on the desk, and so they promoted this occasion in an unbelievable means. So, congratulations.”
What makes the Dutch GP such a shining beacon for Domenicali is that the promoters may in all probability have gotten away with doing little or no. Verstappen’s success in F1 was in all probability sufficient alone to make sure a capability crowd at Zandvoort even with out the leisure extras, so the promoters may have gotten away with doing the naked minimal.
Nevertheless, that they’ve gone the additional mile to ship a weekend carnival ambiance is one thing that Domenicali appreciates an awesome deal.
“It exhibits the extent of dedication that each promoter has to do to enhance the standard of the occasion,” he mentioned. “With the scenario of Max, they may say: ‘Let’s wait and see’. And it would not be an issue in any respect.
“However they did not, and this once more exhibits the extent of consideration to particulars that they suggest to us. They have been in shut contact to me because the first day to share the concepts, to share the packages that they wish to do and the issues that they wish to activate.”
Zandvoort’s capability to guide the pack goes past leisure too, with it additionally placing a heavy emphasis on sustainability.
The Dutch biking tradition, allied to Zandvoort’s location that means it might be unimaginable to get tens of 1000’s of vehicles out and in, prompted an in depth public transport initiative that put sustainability at its coronary heart.And it definitely appeared to work. Simply three p.c of tourists got here by automobile – 43% by public transport, 37% on bikes, 5% walked and 12% had been multi-person automobile pick-ups. Having hit a 97% sustainable transport determine final 12 months, Zandvoort is aiming to hit 98% in 2023 and make it 100% by 2025.
Followers in Zandvoort
Photograph by: Erik Junius
Domenicali added: “They had been the primary that had been very lively on sure issues, like sustainability within the transportation, and logistics. As you’ll be able to see, it is a very small place and, if everybody got here with vehicles, it is recreation over.
“So, the usage of public transportation, and with 37,000 bicycles there, it has been an unbelievable function. It exhibits the extent of dedication that we’re pushing to be carbon impartial for 2030.”
There are observe classes as effectively that F1 has taken from there. Zandvoort’s location within the seaside city meant it was unimaginable to revamp the circuit by extending it for its F1 return – so that’s the place the thought of introducing banked turns to supply spectacle and overtaking alternatives got here from.
It’s an strategy that Domenicali thinks might be mirrored at different venues sooner or later, as international locations bid to hitch the F1 schedule.
“We’ve got a whole lot of requests for grands prix, and we have to be respectful, conserving the steadiness between the normal grands prix and the brand new grand prix,” he mentioned. “With a standard observe it’s tougher, as a result of there are constraints that have to be revered. However after all, we’re pondering what to do.
“In different places the place we’re engaged on doable new tasks for the longer term, that have with Zandvoort helped to form completely different concepts that we’re creating – just like the banked corners.”
However whereas Zandvoort has been successful since its return, each Domenicali and race organisers know that in F1 there may be by no means a second when anybody can relaxation on their laurels – which is why they’re prepared to fireside off concepts for the following period.
Domenicali sees this 12 months’s occasion as an awesome alternative to sit down down with the Dutch GP promoters and plot a long-term technique.
Fernando Alonso, Alpine A522, Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo C42, Alex Albon, Williams FW44
Photograph by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Photos
“I feel that we’re going to have discussions, truly this 12 months, to consider what might be achieved for the longer term,” mentioned Domenicali. “There are many issues we are able to take into consideration, and there may be strain to do issues higher and higher and take the sport to the next stage. So we’re going to sit collectively and work out what’s the finest answer for everybody.”
Zandvoort could have its lengthy historical past in F1, however Domenicali sees a lot extra to come back – particularly with the optimistic perspective the organisers have needed to make the race successful.
“Zandvoort is an outdated observe, and it has custom,” he mentioned. “However this sort of locations, if they’re achieved correctly, can have a future and a spot in our F1 of the fashionable period.”