Dutch GP return on hold until 2021 due to Covid-19

The Dutch Grand Prix has been put back until 2021 due to coronavirus.

The race, which was being revived for the first time since 1985, was originally due to be staged on 3 May, with organisers still hoping to stage it later this year after its initial postponement.

But with sporting events in Holland under tight restriction due to the pandemic, the decision has now been made to move it to next year. In a statement, race director Jan Lammers said: “Due to the worldwide spread of the coronavirus(covid-19)theformula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix has, as previously announced, been postponed.

“The organisation of the Dutch Grand Prix, in consultation with Formula One Management, has had to conclude that it is no longer possible to hold a race with an audience this year.

“Therefore, it has been decided to postpone the race definitively to 2021,” added Lammers.

“Together with the motorsport federation FIA, Formulaonemanagementwilldetermine the schedule for 2021 and with that the new date of the Dutch Grand Prix.

“Like every year the date will be announced by the FIA by the end of 2020. All tickets remain valid for the new race.”

This year was due to mark an end to a 25-year absence from the Formula One calendar for the Netherlands. The race was last held in 1985 when Niki Lauda won before the Zandvoort track was closed.

In anticipation of the race’s return, the coastal circuit has been redesigned, with some corners banked to facilitate faster racing.

Lammers continued: “We would like to celebrate this moment, the return of Formula 1 in Zandvoort, together with our racing fans in the Netherlands.

“We ask everyone to be patient. I had to look forward to it for 35 years, so I can wait another year.”

The Dutch GP becomes the fourth Formula 1 race cancelled so far this season.

The other cancelled races are the season-opening Australian GP on 15 March, the Monaco GP on 24 May and the French GP on 28 June.

Another six have been postponed but it is still hoped to reschedule those and hold 15-18 races this season, starting in July with back-to-back races at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.