Verstappen faces prospect of royal moment at final Dutch Grand Prix

King Willem-Alexander has been a regular at Zandvoort since it returned to the Formula 1 calendar in 2021, but for the finale, he will be attending for the first time in an official capacity.

The King will be handing out the winner’s trophy on the podium, which could mark quite a special moment for the home crowd if Max Verstappen were to again top the podium at his home race.

In recent years, Willem-Alexander has been a frequent visitor to Zandvoort, accompanied by Queen Maxima and other members of the royal family.

However, those visits were considered private. As recently as 2023, the Government Information Service emphasised that the royal family’s presence at the Dutch Grand Prix did not constitute an official visit.

That will change during the final edition of the Dutch Grand Prix, according to De Telegraaf. After the race, Willem-Alexander will hand the trophy to the winner.

The King has never hidden his enthusiasm for Formula 1 and the Dutch Grand Prix. He was present in Zandvoort for the race’s return in 2021 and met Verstappen before the Grand Prix. He also visited the circuit during the 2025 edition.

At the time, he spoke about the race's impending departure from the F1 calendar. Willem-Alexander called the Dutch Grand Prix “one of the most beautiful events” the Netherlands has to offer.

While he expressed understanding for the financial reasons behind ending the event, he also expressed regret that Formula 1 would be leaving the seaside circuit.

Yet despite the sadness, there is now the chance of one final epic farewell for the Dutch fans.

Since the Dutch Grand Prix returned in 2021, Verstappen has won three times at Zandvoort. The Dutchman won the first edition after its return and repeated the feat in 2022 and 2023. His 2023 victory, in particular, came under challenging conditions, with multiple rain showers and a red flag in the closing stages.

In 2024, that streak ended when Lando Norris took the win. A year later, Oscar Piastri came out on top.

During the final Dutch Grand Prix, Verstappen will have one more chance to win on home soil for the fourth time, and despite not having achieved victory so far this season, the weather conditions are turning in his favour.

Latest predictions show an 85 per cent chance of rain across all three days, meaning Verstappen may well get his reunion with the King, as long as there’s a spare umbrella on the podium.