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Thousands of Formula 1 fans miss Dutch Grand Prix sprint after Amsterdam rail chaos
Rail disruption at Amsterdam Central Station left thousands of Formula 1 supporters stranded and unable to reach Zandvoort in time for the sprint race, as the Dutch Grand Prix weekend got under way.
By Eleanor Ellington · 3 min read
Thousands of Formula 1 fans were left stranded in Amsterdam on Saturday after severe rail disruption prevented them from reaching the Zandvoort circuit in time for the sprint race. Photographs shared online showed huge crowds packed inside Amsterdam Central Station, many wearing Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari merchandise, as trains failed to run to schedule and services became overwhelmed.
The train journey is the most common way to reach the coastal circuit, which sits roughly 40 kilometres from the Dutch capital. Supporters described waiting for hours in the station as services were delayed or cancelled, with many ultimately missing the start of the sprint. The disruption cast a shadow over the return of Formula 1 after the summer break, with the Dutch Grand Prix weekend featuring a sprint format for the first time this season.
The chaos came as Max Verstappen confirmed he is to remain with Red Bull until 2030 under a new contract that will make him the highest-paid driver on the grid. According to reports, the four-time world champion will earn a fixed salary of €92 million per season from 2027, rising to €115 million if performance targets are met. The deal, reported to be worth around €460 million in total, places Verstappen ahead of rivals such as Lewis Hamilton, who earns €60 million a year, and behind only Cristiano Ronaldo among the world's best-paid athletes.
Verstappen, who has driven for Red Bull since 2016 and won four consecutive world titles between 2021 and 2024, said he was delighted to extend his stay with the team. He described the outfit as a second family and said the decision to continue was an easy one. His previous contract had been due to expire in 2028. In total, the Dutchman has claimed 71 Grand Prix victories and 131 podiums in Formula 1.
The main race at Zandvoort is scheduled for Sunday at 15:45 local time. The weekend programme includes a single practice session on Friday, sprint qualifying later that day, the sprint race on Saturday, and full qualifying on Saturday evening. Last year's Dutch Grand Prix was won by Oscar Piastri, with Verstappen finishing second and Isack Hadjar third.
After the first 11 races of the season, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers' championship with 219 points, ahead of Lewis Hamilton on 169 and George Russell on 160. The disruption in Amsterdam is likely to raise questions about transport planning for future events at Zandvoort, which attracts large crowds from across Europe for its only annual Formula 1 fixture.
