Van Haren on Dutch GP: "Racing without an audience is not desirable"

It looks gloomy for the first Dutch Grand Prix in 35 years. According to F1-reporter Erik van Haren of De Telegraaf the race will not take place at all this year.

Because the coronavirus is still a huge problem in the Netherlands and almost all festivals and other big parties will be cancelled this year, van Haren thinks that the Dutch Grand Prix can't go on this year. He announces this in a Q&A on the website of De Telegraaf.

"It is logical that Formula 1 is looking for locations where it is possible to race without an audience", says van Haren. "Sports director Jan Lammers has already said on his own title that racing without an audience is not desirable here. Logical, because the Dutch Grand Prix is pre-eminently a race for the people."

Van Haren believes that the promoters of the various cancelled Grands Prix must realise that races must continue to guarantee income. Even if that means that there should be races without an audience.

"As far as that is concerned, Zandvoort can also end up in an awkward split, but for the time being there has been no official request from the Formula 1 management", says van Haren. "The situation is strange and complicated for everyone."