The Dutch Grand Prix has always had a special place in my heart. I’m Lola, the founder of RacingMediaGirls, and the 2021 Dutch Grand Prix was the first F1 race I ever watched. A year later, I attended my first Grand Prix in Zandvoort, and in 2024 I returned with RacingMediaGirls. In 2025, I even stepped into the Formula 1 paddock for the first time, on friday with OKX and McLaren, and Sunday with Aston Martin.
With this being the final Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, I knew I couldn’t miss it. Although it looked like I would have to watch my final home race from the couch, I received some great news just a week before the race. And once again, I got to make some incredible new memories at Zandvoort.
F1 Academy discover your drive
Late on Tuesday evening, I received an email from the Dutch Grand Prix: I had been invited to join the F1 Academy Discover Your Drive programme on Thursday. I didn’t know how quickly I could pack my bags and, the very next day, I was on the train to Amsterdam, where I would stay for the rest of the weekend.
Thursday morning finally arrived. I was attending on my own, but I had already met someone through Instagram, so we met at the station and walked together towards the circuit.
The walk took us along the beautiful Zandvoort beach, with the circuit slowly coming to life around us. It was only Thursday, so teams and staff were still busy putting the finishing touches to everything before the weekend began.
We met at the F1 Academy paddock entrance, where a lot of girls were already waiting. A few minutes later, the moment we had been waiting for arrived: we were allowed into the F1 Academy paddock! After taking a group photo, we were split into smaller groups.
My group got to meet Ava Dobson, the American driver supported by American Express. She made her F1 Academy debut as the Miami Wild Card and, in 2026, is driving the #55 American Express car operated by Hitech. Ava showed us her car and steering wheel, and we had the chance to ask her some questions. She was excited for the weekend in Zandvoort and, like everyone else, was hoping the weather would stay dry. She eventually finished P13 in the second race of the weekend.After meeting Ava, we had some time to explore the paddock before heading to the LEGO stand.
Since LEGO is one of the teams competing in F1 Academy, they were also present in Zandvoort, where we got to build something very Dutch: our own LEGO tulip!
It was also a special weekend for the Dutch drivers. Esmee Kosterman races for the LEGO team and had her home race in Zandvoort, where she managed to score points. She wasn't the only Dutch driver on the grid either. Nina Gademan also raced in Zandvoort and had an incredible weekend, standing on the podium twice.
After our time in the paddock, we headed to a lounge at the circuit for a Q&A with three women working in different roles within the world of F1 and F1 Academy. It was incredibly interesting to hear about the different paths they had taken in motorsport.
One of them works for Pirelli and is responsible for the tyres used in F1 Academy. Another is a physiotherapist working with the Haas F1 Team, helping drivers and team members stay physically and mentally prepared throughout the season. She also works around the challenges of constant travel, jet lag and a packed race calendar. The third speaker has a senior role within F1 Academy and gave us an insight into everything that happens behind the scenes.
The Q&A was hosted by a woman working for the Dutch Grand Prix, who also told us more about her role and the communication between the different races on the calendar, especially now that Zandvoort is coming to an end as a Grand Prix venue.
Overall, it was such an interesting day filled with inspiration, new experiences and meeting people I probably wouldn't have met otherwise.
After the workshop, I stayed at the circuit for a little longer to watch everything being prepared for the weekend. I even got to see the safety car testing on the straight. And then, suddenly, the weather completely changed. The rain came down heavily, followed by a proper thunderstorm. A very Dutch way to end my first day at the Dutch Grand Prix!
How I Got Free Tickets to the Final Dutch GP
You might be wondering: if I wasn’t planning on going to the Dutch Grand Prix, how did I end up getting tickets?
Well, this is quite a special story. A few days before the Grand Prix, I received a message from one of my followers. He had two tickets that he could no longer use due to personal reasons. He had tried to sell them but couldn’t find anyone, so he decided to give them to me instead. How incredibly kind is that?! Of course, I grabbed the opportunity with both hands. And these weren’t just any tickets, they were tickets for the Pit Grandstand. A dream come true!
The tickets were for Saturday and Sunday, so Friday wasn’t included. I therefore spent Friday in Amsterdam, where I also took the opportunity to visit the Lando Norris Pit Stop Pop-Up Store before heading to Zandvoort for the rest of the weekend.
Sprint saturday during the Dutch Grand Prix
Sprint Saturday
Of course, it was a Sprint weekend, which meant my Dutch GP started with the Sprint Race. I was sitting right opposite the Haas and Audi garages, giving me an amazing view of the start. My seat was right between the start-finish line and Turn 1 how cool is that?!
It had always been a dream of mine to watch an F1 start from this close, and seeing all 20 cars flying past was absolutely incredible.
After the Sprint, it was time for qualifying. And wow, do these cars go fast! I’ve been to quite a few races, but I had never sat at such a high-speed section of a circuit before. At some points, the cars were literally just a blur passing by, and I sometimes had to recognise the team by the colour before they disappeared again.
After an incredible first day at the Dutch GP, it was finally time to get ready for race day.
How Much Did I Spend?
I do have to admit that it felt much busier than in previous years. This was my fourth Dutch GP, and I had never seen it this crowded before. We had to wait for the train for quite a while after leaving the circuit.
Before heading back to Amsterdam, we decided to grab some food at the circuit. And since I know many people are curious about how expensive a day at the Dutch GP actually is, here’s exactly what I spent on my Sprint Saturday:
- 🌮 Lunch: Nachos – €13.50
- 🥤 Drink: Red Bull – €7.94 (I didn’t have a reusable cup token)
- 🍟 Dinner: Fries with sauce – €6.90
- 🚆 Train + tram to my hotel in Amsterdam: €16.64
Total: €44.99
The final lap in the dutch dunes
Race day had finally arrived! We started the morning at the F1 Academy paddock, which was open to the public at certain times. We got a freshly made stroopwafel, made another LEGO tulip, and had a look around at the teams that were already packing up after their races earlier that morning.
Then, about 40 minutes before the F1 race, it suddenly started raining! We quickly put on our ponchos and hoped the rain would leave the track wet enough to make the final Dutch Grand Prix even more exciting.
A full show was taking place right in front of us to properly celebrate the final lap. The Dutch national anthem was played, and then it was finally time: the last ever Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
Unfortunately, the race ended far too early for home favourite Max Verstappen. The Orange Army went completely silent for a moment, but eventually the atmosphere came back to life.
And in the end, it was Lando Norris who took the victory in the final Dutch Grand Prix. What a way to close the chapter on Formula 1 at Zandvoort.
