Jack Plooij

Jack Plooij is a well-known Dutch Formula 1 pit reporter and journalist, best known for his long-standing collaboration with Olav Mol. He has been active in motorsport since 1998, first with RTL and later with Ziggo Sport. Alongside his media career, he also works as a dentist and implantologist.

Jack Plooij in Formula 1: From RTL to Ziggo Sport

Plooij made his debut as a pit reporter at the 1998 Italian Grand Prix in Monza, invited by team boss Frans Verschuur. He became the regular right-hand man of commentator Olav Mol. In 2001, he succeeded Allard Kalff as RTL GP’s permanent pit reporter.

When broadcasting rights temporarily moved to SBS, Plooij followed Mol to the new network. After Formula 1 returned to RTL, he stayed with SBS to work on other programmes. In 2016, when Ziggo Sport acquired the F1 rights, Plooij returned as a fixed presence during race weekends, once again as pit reporter.

Radio, theatre, and partnership with Olav Mol

Alongside Olav Mol, he formed a familiar duo at Ziggo Sport for many years. Between 2016 and 2021, they co-authored an annual book covering each F1 season. They also wrote a book in 2007 about the Dakar Rally, in which Plooij himself participated in 2006 and 2007.

In 2021, it was announced that Ziggo Sport would lose the Formula 1 rights to Viaplay. Plooij was not retained and openly voiced his frustration, notably during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix where he made a middle-finger gesture live on air.

Since 2022, Plooij has been the co-commentator for Grand Prix Radio alongside Olav Mol, delivering live coverage of every race. He also regularly appears on Ziggo Sport’s Race Café. In 2024, he and Mol launched a theatre show about life behind the scenes in Formula 1.

Jack Plooij as a dentist

Outside of broadcasting, Plooij is a qualified dentist. He graduated from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 1986 and earned his PhD in Nijmegen in 1991. Since then, he has specialised in implantology, running his own dental practice.

Family and private life

Jack Plooij is the father of Michael Plooij, who was involved in Formula 1 in 2017 in a commercial role for Heineken. There is no public information about his partner or marital status. His net worth is not publicly disclosed.