Max Verstappen‘s home race appears to be doomed. The Dutch GP, which F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali described as a “fan favorite” in 2022, is on the verge of losing its permanent spot on the F1 calendar after 2025, once its current contract ends. Moreover, the organizers have now landed in deeper trouble, with a ticket reseller not paying its dues worth nearly €4 million (~$4.3 million).

As per de Telegraaf, the Dutch GP is in a ‘business dispute’ with a ticket reseller for the F1 race in the Netherlands from August 23rd to 25th. The Platinium Group in Monaco, which was allowed to sell 35,000 tickets overseas, which is a tenth of Zandvoort’s total capacity, still hasn’t cleared its dues. Instead, the reseller argued that selling tickets was becoming a difficult nightmare.

This is an ominous déjà vu of the British GP situation earlier this year where many tickets were unsold, and the organizers desperately blamed Verstappen’s dominance for Silverstone’s business loss. The de Telegraaf report also states that there are different resellers like Verstappen Travel in Swalmen in Limburg, which sells tickets for the Max Verstappen grandstand abroad. And this could be one of the reasons affecting Platinium’s sales for the Dutch GP.

Despite this negative development adding to the venue’s struggle to retain its spot in F1, a spokesperson confidently said, “The stands will be full.” But even full grandstands might not save them now, with F1 exploring more circuits worldwide, especially in Africa. So, to counter this, the Dutchmen are currently left with one single choice.

Dutch GP’s final compromise to retain its spot on the F1 calendar

Considering Max Verstappen’s popularity fills the Zandvoort grandstands, it’s astonishing to think why F1 would want to lose such a moneymaking circuit. However, Robert van Overdijk, director of the circuit, was skeptical of F1 extending its contract after 2025. “At the moment, the risks are too great. But of course, we are doing everything we can to see if a race after 2025 is still possible. It is clear that the situation is precarious,” he added.

Surprisingly, only a few days after his statement, a bittersweet development came about. As per Formule1.nl, F1 had renewed the Dutch GP’s contract, but not annually. Verstappen’s home race would rotate with his favorite race, the Belgian GP, i.e. they would alternatively occupy one annual spot on the F1 calendar. Soon after, another reporter contradicted this claim. After that, the only certain feeling that the Dutch GP organizers have is uncertainty.

The fabled race seems to be following in the German GP’s ugly footsteps, which witnessed half-empty grandstands after home hero Michael Schumacher retired. Though the Netherlands’ very own reigning world champion is nowhere near retirement, Red Bull sure is in troubled waters. It won’t be a surprise if the footfall at Zandvoort tanks once Verstappen loses his victorious edge.