26/08/2025
NEWS STORY
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team's 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season will resume with Round 15, the Dutch Grand Prix, at Circuit Zandvoort.
Zandvoort, the nearest coastal town to the capital Amsterdam, has long been a tourist hotspot, and in the late 1940s a race track was laid out across its dunes. The Dutch Grand Prix was a regular staple of the calendar through the early decades of the championship but it was discontinued after 1985, and the layout was shortened and modified. The emergence and rise of Max Verstappen sparked renewed interest in Formula 1 and the Dutch Grand Prix was revived in 2021. Zandvoort proved to be a popular destination, complete with its nearby expansive sandy beach and promenade, while the passionate local fans turn the grandstands a sea of orange throughout the weekend. This year's event will be the penultimate running at Zandvoort, following the decision of the organizers not to continue after 2026.
The layout re-introduced in 2021 remains faithful to the original challenges of the fast and flowing circuit, most notably the right-hand plunge through Scheivlak, and in its short existence the venue's modified turns have received widespread acclaim. They are Turn 3, Hugenholtz, which features 18-degree banking that opens up multiple racing lines and demands complete commitment, as does the banked final corner, Arie Luyendykbocht, which slingshots drivers onto the pit straight and towards the 180-degree first corner, Tarzan, which provides the best overtaking opportunity of the 4.3km lap.
Esteban Ocon has contested each of the four grands prix to be held at Circuit Zandvoort since its revival in the modern era, taking best finishes of ninth in both 2021 and 2022, while Oliver Bearman has experience of the circuit from FIA Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3.
Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal: "After a two-week summer break, we're keen and ready to get back racing, especially in Zandvoort, where the atmosphere is unique with such passionate fans. Before the break, I felt we weren't getting the results we should have been for a few races, but we've had a good reset. We now need to come out firing on all cylinders to maximize every opportunity as the competition is closer than ever."
Ollie Bearman: "I'm very excited to return to racing, it's been a long summer break and I'm really motivated to have a great second half of the season. Starting off with Zandvoort, it's a very short track with lots of difficult corners and banking as well, which makes it tough. I'm excited to see what our car can do around here; hopefully we have good balance and can fight for points this weekend."
Esteban Ocon: "It was great to have time off for the summer break to unwind and spend some quality time with friends and family. It's always important for everyone to take that time off to be able to come back refreshed ahead of a busy second part of the season. The break is now over, and we are all ready to get back to racing!
"The first race back always provides a good feeling, and the atmosphere in Zandvoort is truly one of the best of the year. It's a beautiful part of the world, and it's always special to experience it and to drive in front of the passionate Dutch fans. Opportunities for overtaking can be quite limited, so it will be important for us to bring everything together in qualifying. We know we lacked a bit of consistency in the first half of the season so we will be working hard to have a clean weekend and maximize the performance of the car. I'm looking forward to getting back to it!"