Lewis Hamilton hails peculiar Zandvoort: 'One of the best'

Lewis Hamilton has hailed Zandvoort as "one of the best circuits" in the world, ahead of the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix. 

Zandvoort returned to the F1 calendar in 2021 but will be axed after 2026, with the venue having been given a Sprint weekend next year as a farewell memento. 

The Dutch GP has not been a particularly strong venue for the seven-time world champion in recent seasons, having finished fourth in 2022, sixth in 2023 and eighth in 2024. 

His best performance at the historic circuit situated in North Holland came on the track's return to the calendar in 2021, where he finished in second behind Max Verstappen. 

Zandvoort is one of the most popular venues on the calendar for the drivers, due to the staggering elevation change, banked corners and general rollercoaster likeness. 

F1 will visit the venue in just over a week, for F1's return from the summer break to kickstart the final 10 rounds of the campaign. 

"It's like an old house," Hamilton told Viaplay. "It really has character. And how do you give a house character? 

"The circuit has a lot of imperfections and the terrain also has a lot of character. Many circuits were built on flat surfaces, whereas this circuit was built when the technology for that didn't exist.

"It's an old circuit. There are a lot of bumps, because of the ground and the hills. To me, that just creates one of the best circuits. 

"And the fans are ... It's great to see the fans there every year. They really make that race what it is, too."