The Dutch Grand Prix will be on the F1 calendar at least until 2025 after the contract is extended. The F1 race in the North Holland seaside resort takes place this weekend and Formula 1 is starting to live again after a summer break. In the studio at Viaplay, the future of the event after 2025 is discussed.

The conversation begins with former tyre expert at Bridgestone and motorsport engineer Kees van de Grint. Van de Grint finds it ridiculous that an event like the Dutch GP is in limbo over a spot on the F1 grid, while Saudi Arabia has signed a long-term deal through a lot of money. Indeed, former F1 driver Jan Lammers says the country has committed the race for 10 years at a cost of $900 million.

Zandvoort in limbo, Saudi Arabia buys off ten years

Van de Grint: "That money should not be the most important thing [...] When I see what the Dutch have put there. That is unique. And then the audience we attract, that is also unique. If you then let go of the logic, this race should stay here. Then those millions should play no role. Then when you hear those reports from Amnesty International about Saudi Arabia, it's a disgrace that it is already being discussed at all that we are going there and that the Netherlands might not be able to pay for the GP over time."

Lammers, as sporting director of the Grand Prix, is asked whether it is mainly about big money at the F1 organisation and whether he can already say anything about the Zandvoort GP after 2025. Lammers: "I think we are focusing on this weekend first and it is too early to say anything about that. We focus on the things we can influence and try to do it as well as possible. We hope we can make a nice contribution in that whole calendar."