Verstappen and manager “sorry” about postponement of Dutch GP

Max Verstappen’s manager Raymond Vermeulen has said “sorry” on behalf of the both of them for the postponement of the Dutch GP, revealing they didn’t find out until the press release.

Formula 1 was set to return to a newly renovated Zandvoort for the first time since 1985 this year but the impact of coronavirus around the world has meant that the first seven races have either been postponed or cancelled.

The Chinese Grand Prix was cancelled last month with the outbreak of Covid-19 first occurring in Wuhan, while the race in Australia was cancelled just hours before FP1 was set to start after a McLaren team member tested positive for the disease.

Since then the races in Bahrain, Vietnam, Holland and Spain have also been postponed while the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix has also been cancelled.

Verstappen and Vermeulen are “sorry” for the postponement of the driver’s home race and didn’t find out until the release.

"It is the new reality," Vermeulen told Dutch outlet 1Limburg. "Events worldwide are cancelled. It is no different in Formula 1.

"Of course we are sorry. We cannot say much more about it. We are in the same boat as everyone. We also hear this through a press release.

"It is not a cancellation, but a postponement. We don't have more information. We assume that the FIA and the Formula 1 organisation will make the right decisions.

"These are difficult times, but we hope we can get back to racing soon. Like everyone else, we are waiting for it."

With all the postponements/cancellations Azerbaijan is the current start to the 2020 F1 season on June 5.