The idea of adding Assen to the Formula 1 calendar in the future for a Dutch Grand Prix is not the one supported by the leading MotoGP riders.
With the rise of Dutch-born Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen in F1, the fan-following in the country has raised to crazy levels with many following the young star all around the world in the races.
This prompted for the idea of F1 returning to the Netherlands, possibly at Assen – which is primarily a circuit used for two-wheel races such as MotoGP and World Superbike. It hosts junior formulae races but has never any event, even the Formula 3 or Formula 2 level.
When asked some of the top MotoGP riders ahead of the Dutch TT round in the 2018 season, if they feel F1 should race at Assen – the majority of them were of the view that it shouldn’t due to the surface it will have to race on.
“I hope they don’t come because Formula 1 have a lot of tracks that they use just for the cars, like Le Castellet last week, and here Assen is just for motorcycles in the history,” said Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi.
“First of all, it would be a particular track for the Formula 1 – but better not have F1 for us because you have less bumps, and I think for the historic side is better that just MotoGP races here.”
Honda’s Marc Marquez had a similar view regarding the bumps: “Formula 1 here would be very, very fast because [there are] many fast corners and maybe the laptime per lap would be one minute, I don’t know, because they are so fast.
“But always is good when Formula 1 is interested about a circuit like Assen – but yeah, then this for the bike means that we’ll have some bumps, but [it] is not a big problem,” the Spaniard added.
Ducati’s Jorge Lorenzo reckons the track will need huge modifications so as to run a F1 race, but he also doesn’t want it be staged: “It will be strange to see and I hope it [F1] doesn’t come here.
“Firstly because the bumps, and second probably because they will have to modify so much the track. It would be very strange to see the Formula 1 cars riding in a track that is completely green outside the race track – but everything is possible.
“I don’t know the modifications they should do in that case, but obviously for the bumps as Marc and Vale says, it will be better if F1 doesn’t come here.” For now, Assen is on the shortlist of Liberty Media to return in 2020 – if the deal goes through.
