Extreme downpour wreaks havoc in Zandvoort as circuit reports severe damage

Photos and videos shared on social media showed streets in the center of Zandvoort completely flooded, with water levels reaching up to fifty centimeters in some spots.

The circuit, which will host the Formula 1 Grand Prix in just over a month, over the weekend of August 29–31, didn’t escape the chaos either: access roads were underwater, and a mudslide was seen sweeping across the track itself.

Due to the extreme rainfall, a planned test drive with a hydrogen car from a student team in Delft could not go ahead. The car was to be tested on the circuit, but it was inaccessible due to the flooded access roads.

"Our car runs on hydrogen, but it can't handle that much water," a student told NH News. "It's a shame, because we were supposed to do a longer test drive for the first time tonight,'' he added.

One of the photos circulating online shows a large pool of water in the grass near the final sector, while the gravel trap next to the track appears heavily damaged. A noticeable hole has formed in the gravel, likely caused by the sheer force of the water cutting through.

While the damage is clearly visible, it doesn’t appear to be structural or serious enough to jeopardize the Dutch Grand Prix.

Formula 1 isn’t scheduled to return to Zandvoort for over a month, giving organizers enough time to carry out any necessary repairs. At least for now, Dutch fans can breathe easy: they’ll still have the chance to see Max Verstappen in action in front of his home crowd.

It’s still unclear if other areas of the circuit were affected. The heavy rainfall caused widespread disruption around the track and throughout the coastal town.