Zandvoort 2020?

[Autosport] Zandvoort is set to replace Barcelona as the first non-flyaway race of the 2020 F1 season, with the Spanish Grand Prix falling off the calendar.

Also, There has also been significant progress made on keeping Monza on the calendar.

 

OMG, if true that is astonishing news. And Zandvoort in May is perfect. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Since Zandvoort is so close to Amsterdam: Is there a convenient tram/train line to the track? Would be ideal to stay in Amsterdam.

 

With such an easy access I'd rather stay in Amsterdam anyhow and enjoy the city life. With that train it'll be very similar to Barcelona

 

The way you guys make it sound, Zandvoort (along with Amsterdam being "next door") looks like a better deal and experience than Monaco during a GP weekend.

After reading Monaco during a GP weekend, I would rather visit Monaco when there is'nt a GP a month before a GP and 2 weeks after a GP.

 

I am sorry to be negative but Zandvoort used to be an absolutely brilliant circuit and the best for overtaking. Then they decided to build houses on part of the track so now you are left with a silly twisty track with no overtaking. No idea why anyone thought that was a good idea. It is completely unsuitable for F1 as it is now (so that surely means a race there is bound to happen). F1 really doesn't need yet another track where no-one can overtake. It really does need Zandvoort as it used to be. It just needs some houses bulldozed and the old track rebuilt instead.

 

Nah, Monaco GP is perfectly fine. I usually stay in Nice and avoid the shenanigans and high costs.

IMHO the best event is the Historic F1 GP the week before the F1 GP (runs every two years). THAT's the ticket. At least to folks who love F1 history.

 

It has changed but some of the key corners like Tarzan are still there. Could be worse, could be Hockenheim...

 

Went around current Zandwoort layout in January 2013 with a decent vintage racer in his Mercedes station wagon (!) and it felt impossibly tight turning in on itself all the time, not at all worthy of F1, sorry.

 

Yes, it's a good track for touring and GT cars, but in its present form, it will be a bit tight for F1.
Expect a procession there !

 

+1

 

Why not have the British GP at Mallory park while you are at it Liberty?

 

Having been to the British GP at Brands Hatch in 1980 I know what you're talking about. Man, that was brilliant! And my fav Alan Jones won. One of my happiest days.

Not sure why you had to walk that much to the entrance unless your seats were on the other side. From the train station to the s/f line it is a short walk (unless they recently changed something, which is always possible).

Speaking of easy walks: Mexican GP is a close contender: Subway ride takes you to within a block of the entrance.

 

Hey Bas, what dates are we talking about? I'm guessing the weekend of May 10. Right?

Hotels in Amsterdam already ridiculously expensive.

 

F1 in Zandvoort would be fun but it will be a nightmare to go there by car. Book your hotel early. Amsterdam, Haarlem, Hoofddorp are all pretty close by and take a bus/train/bike to the track. I assume there will be extra buses and shuttle buses from the nearby cities to bring the spectators to the circuit. On a random summerday it’s already impossible to park your car anywhere on the Zandvoort boulevard. F1 in Zandvoort will be absolute CHAOS. I can’t wait Thank god I live pretty close and can ride on my motor scooter to the track.

 

Hummm, I hope the DRS zone will start in Amsterdam, or it´s going to be impossible to overtake there. Maybe they can lenghten the main straight, at least it would be like another Hungaroring.

 

This just shows that the evolution of the tracks does not follow the uncreasing speeds of the cars.
We want the tracks to be adapted to the cars, when in fact we should have restrained the cars to be able to run on the tracks as they were.
I don't think the show is better with 1000hp cars full of aero, than it was in the 1.5liter formula with barely 200hp, and no wings at all.

You talk about Silverstone, but that's about the ONLY British circuit that can accommodate modern F1 and WEC cars.
I mean with a minimum of safety; and that's why the public is kept at some distance. But the track allows a driver to express himself fully at least.
Even Donington is inadequate now, and you can forget Brands Hatch (my favourite circuit, BTW), it's very limited now.

Never mind, I prefer an extra race in Europe, than in some God-forsaken place in the Far East. Call me bias if you want.

 

I go to Brands quite often (maybe 5 or 6 times a year), mostly to Watch club racing.
You couldn't have a GP at Brands Hatch anymore. The lap time now would be very different than in 1980, the circuit cannot accommodate the necessary run-off areas, and the pits and paddock are too tight, etc ...
Because of all the housing nearby, there is also a noise abatement restriction.
I suppose that would be ideal for Formula E ? LOL

 

But ultimately they could run F1 there if they wanted to. Monaco gets special dispensation. No run-offs areas, far worse noise for residents etc etc.
It's all about motivation.
It's a shame as Brands is second to Spa in terms of driver challenge and supreme viewing for spectators.

 

Interesting comment about the housing. Back then I remember we parked in the middle of nowhere and walked across acres of open land to the track. Wow, tempora mutant.

 

My logic is that if Zandvoort really replaces Barcelona it will be the race before the Monaco GP. Monaco is the one and only race in the calendar whose date is already defined a year in advance. So taking two weeks off that date I came up with my date.

Grau mein Freund ist jede Theorie…

 

I doubt it, the locals would be dead against it anyway, and they have a lot of power in UK.
The circuit still exists only because it has accepted to reduce its activity, and mostly the noise!
I don't think anybody is interested in holding a GP there.
The previous owners sold the track to MotorVision because they couldn't bid for the GP anymore.