Michael van Gerwen swapped the oche for the race track this weekend, attending the final Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort. The three-time world champion soaked up the Formula 1 atmosphere, sharing his day on Instagram and speaking to Viaplay during qualifying. While several colleagues competed at the Australian Darts Masters, Van Gerwen stayed in the Netherlands to enjoy the spectacle.
Saturday's sprint and qualifying saw a heavy downpour late in the sprint, with Max Verstappen finishing sixth. By qualifying, conditions improved, and Verstappen set the seventh-fastest time, starting from P7. Lando Norris took pole for McLaren and went on to win the race. Van Gerwen noted, “A shame it just wasn’t as exciting as it could have been. It needed to rain a bit earlier, but I’m curious to see the results.”
The 37-year-old, a big F1 fan, usually watches with Vincent van der Voort. “If I get the chance to watch, I definitely do, yes, always,” he said. The Zandvoort visit offered a different experience than a hotel room: “Here I feel nice and free, I can do my own thing and relax.” Having attended the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, he noted the Dutch atmosphere is unique: “Max is a bit more loved here than there,” he smiled, adding, “I know so many people here, I’m chatting with everyone.”
Van Gerwen expressed disappointment that the Dutch Grand Prix is leaving the calendar for now, calling it “the biggest sporting event in the Netherlands. I think you can only be very proud of that. It’s a real shame this is the last time.” He hopes for a return: “There’s nothing we can do about it together, and we just have to hope it returns in a few years. All we can do is hope.”
The trip was a welcome break after a tough spell, following his early World Matchplay exit that dropped him to seventh on the PDC Order of Merit, ending his 13-year top-four run. With autumn crucial for better results, Van Gerwen parked those concerns to enjoy F1. “Here I feel nice and free,” he summed up his relaxed day.
