Max Verstappen may have a special chapter in his last home race in Formula 1. King Willem-Alexander will, for the first time, have an official role in the Dutch GP and will present the trophy to the winner.
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The monarch has regularly followed the Zandvoort stage since the race returned to the calendar in 2021, but his previous participations were considered private visits. According to the newspaper De Telegraaf, this condition will change in the final edition of the Dutch GP, when Willem-Alexander will officially participate in the podium ceremony.
The possibility creates a particular scenario for Dutch fans, should Verstappen win again at home. The Red Bull Racing driver won the first three editions held in Zandvoort after the return to F1, in 2021, 2022, and 2023, before Lando Norris won in 2024 and Oscar Piastri triumphed in 2025.
Willem-Alexander has never hidden his enthusiasm for Formula 1 and the event in Zandvoort. In 2021, he was present at the race’s return and met Verstappen before the GP, while also attending the 2025 edition. On that occasion, he commented on the race’s removal from the calendar and described the Dutch GP as ‘one of the most beautiful events offered by the country’.
Although he showed understanding for the financial reasons that led to the end of the race, the king also regretted Formula 1’s departure from the coastal circuit. Now, the farewell could end with a symbolic scene, should Verstappen achieve his fourth home victory and receive the trophy directly from the monarch’s hands.
The weather factor may still contribute to a different outcome. Weather forecasts indicate an 85% chance of rain over the three days of the event, which raises expectations for a race in variable conditions and may provide Verstappen with a last opportunity to win in Zandvoort.
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