Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has hailed Max Verstappen as the “real reason” the sport made a historic return to Zandvoort.

The return of the Dutch Grand Prix seemed highly unlikely after its axing in 1985, but it returned in 2021 and attracted huge crowds, all eager to see Red Bull’s star driver.

Unfortunately, this year’s Dutch GP, following the summer break, represents the last for the foreseeable future, leaving many to reflect on how it returned to the calendar in the first place.

Verstappen was critical to F1’s return to his home country, putting the Netherlands back on the map in the championship after winning his first race in 2016.

The four-time world champion was victorious in 2021 when F1 returned to Zandvoort, the same year he claimed his first title.

Robert van Overdijk, director of Zandvoort, had this to say about Verstappen’s role in the return in the Viaplay documentary Dutch GP: Against All Odds, saying: “As far as timing goes, everything fell into place. It all starts with the fact that you have a hero. 

“Everything can be traced back to that. If that rising hero hadn’t been there, we would never have sat down at the table with Formula 1.”

Verstappen the key

Without Verstappen, F1 had very little reason to return to The Netherlands, with Ecclestone making it clear that without the Dutchman it would never have happened.

“The real reason is Max,” said Verstappen. “Without Max, it wouldn’t have happened. There are many things that can make something special. 

“He makes that race special because he’s pretty special himself. It brought some glamour to that track. At least, that’s how it seemed.”

The return of the Dutch GP has made history in the country, with Van Overdijk recognising that everyone came together to celebrate the rise of the 28-year-old.

“Thanks to Max’s rise, by bringing a number of parties together and securing several title sponsors around that—who dared to make decisions based on a story with soft elements, passion, and emotion—that was a unique moment in Dutch sports history,” Van Overdijk concluded.