Race director witnesses 'revival of the sport' since Verstappen's F1 rise

08:19, 15 Aug 2025

byEstéban den Toom

Claire Dubbelman, Formula 1 race director, has observed a major shift in the Netherlands since Max Verstappen rose to prominence in the pinnacle of motorsport. In a podcast, Dubbelman spoke of the “rebirth of the sport” thanks to the Red Bull Racing driver.

''The sport has seen such a transformation in recent years. I've lived and worked in five different countries,'' the F1 race director began in the Chequered Flag podcast by the BBC.

''The last time I lived in the Netherlands was around 2015-2016. I left to Germany at the time. I became a team manager of a big endurance team. And when I left the Netherlands around that time, motorsport was in a very difficult place.''

''It was national championships where we're really struggling for competitors and all that. And then when Max (Verstappen) entered Formula 1, it's been the revival of the sport in the country.''

Max Verstappen

Dubbelman on the comeback of the Dutch GP

''The last few years I lived in the Netherlands, I had a place in Zandvoort, about 500 meters away from the racetrack,'' Dubbelman added.

''So the guys that work on the racetrack, they actually started their career around the same time as I did around 2007-2008, we really grew up together.''

''So to be able to celebrate the return of the Dutch Grand Prix was really emotional, to be able to do it with my race family.''

''It was a really special time and obviously every time I come back it's really a party. It's just so nice to be able to work with all these people that I consider family, so it's very very nice.''

In February 2025, the FIA announced the appointments for key positions in race direction. Rui Marques replaces Niels Wittich, who has departed the governing body. The Portuguese Marques is supported by deputy race director Dubbelman.

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Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	72
2	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	63
3	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	49
4	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	41
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	25
6	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	21
7	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	17
8	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	15
9	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	12
10	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	10
11	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	4
12	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	4
13	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	2
14	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	2
15	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	1
16	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	1
17	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
18	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	0
19	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
20	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
21	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	0
22	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0

Race director witnesses 'revival of the sport' since Verstappen's F1 rise

byEstéban den Toom

Dubbelman on the comeback of the Dutch GP

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