Dutch authorities request Stake F1 name change for Zandvoort

F1 and Stake have been called on by the Dutch betting authority, the Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa), not to promote the team's name at Zandvoort this weekend.

F1 returns from the summer break with the Dutch Grand Prix, but the country's government is moving to stop Stake from running its usual team name, which is from the Australian-Curaçaoan gambling company that owns the Sauber entry.

Gambling advertising is not illegal in The Netherlands, but Stake is not licensed in the country and is therefore an illegal website to use. As such, the company has geo-blocked the nation.

However, the Dutch government still sees cases of Dutch users accessing the online casino. Therefore, it has called on F1 and the team itself not to promote the website.

Stake ran under the Kick Sauber name earlier in the season, as gambling advertising is banned in Australia, Spain and Belgium. The final country on the F1 calendar that will require the name change is Qatar, which hosts its grand prix at the tail-end of the season.

According to the Ksa website, the governing body has "ordered the organisation of Formula 1 in Zandvoort, the Dutch Grand Prix, and the Sauber racing team not to advertise for illegal gambling provider Stake during the races in Zandvoort."

It goes on to add: "Despite the measures taken by Stake, the Ksa still sees participation by Dutch players.

"The Ksa therefore finds it undesirable that illegal gambling is advertised at a Dutch event with the reach and size of Formula 1, also because the event attracts a lot of attention among vulnerable groups (minors and young adults).

"The board of the Ksa has therefore urgently requested both Sauber and the organisation of the Dutch Grand Prix not to drive under the name Stake and not to advertise for this provider."