Mika Hakkinen looking forward to "carnival" Dutch GP!

Two-time F1 champion Mika Hakkinen has said that the Dutch GP in 2020 will be "one big party" as the event returns to the F1 calendar for the first time since 1985. The emergence of Max Verstappen has greatly increased the interest in F1 in the country, leading to the Zandvoort Circuit being awarded the race for next season.

The race on the Dutch coast will be the fifth race of the season, starting the European leg of the year and the track is undergoing serious renovations to make it suitable for F1 racing.

However, even if the racing isn't great, the crowd will be. We've seen the Orange Army at other European events, such as the Austrian, Belgian and German Grands Prix, but imagine the entire circuit being swarmed with Verstappen fans?

Due to this, Hakkinen believes the race will be almost like a carnival. He said on the Unibet podcast: "What I am really looking forward to is the enthusiasm of the Dutch fans. It will be a madhouse. The fans will go completely crazy. They will have so much fun. It will be one big party, a kind of carnival. In that respect it will be fantastic.

"Whether they have everything ready on time? I think the only problem is how to get to the circuit later. I understand that the interest in the Grand Prix tickets has been amazing, imagine how many hot dogs and beer will be sold!"