F1 News: Dutch GP Cracks Down On Fan Abuse And Flares After 2022 Chaos

The director of the Dutch Grand Prix has confirmed that there will be more in place for fans to stop any harassment as well as a clamp down on the use of flares.

The Dutch Grand Prix director, Imre van Leeuwen, has confirmed the work that has gone in to improve the fan experience for the upcoming race weekend in Zandvoort, including discouraging the use of flares. 

Van Leeuwen is eager to make the event enjoyable for all fans, not just those of Dutch driver Max Verstappen. The reported harassment issues from the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix spurred the Drive it Out campaign, which aims to combat fan abuse both in person and online. 

During an interview with Autosport, van Leeuwen explained:

“The first year, we only had Dutchies because of COVID.

"So it started like that. But I would be really disappointed in our fans if, as a Ferrari or Lewis Hamilton fan, you wouldn't feel safe.

“That's totally unacceptable and we won't let it happen. We cannot tolerate it, and we will take people's tickets away.

“Everybody should feel welcome. We need drivers to compete, otherwise there's no race. If we only have Max racing around it wouldn't be F1!”

Van Leeuwen went on to explain what has been happening behind-the-scenes as part of the Drive it Out campaign. He continued:

“Together with F1 our safety manager and the people involved from our team had meetings with Austria, with Belgium, with Barcelona, places where lots of Dutch fans go.

“It's good to celebrate and have a party, but it's not good to intimidate people, or behave in a disrespectful way.

“So yes, it's very important to stop that. We have a work group with the other promoters. We took extra measures on informing the people on what do we like, and what we don't like. Of course, we will punish people. It's important topic for us, that everybody feels safe.

“We have now an information point so if something happens to you, you can tell your story there, there will be reports, we can calm you down if something nasty happens.

“We're working with the police and trying to inform people as well as we can. Luckily, in Austria it went very well I think this year, and I didn't hear of any issues."

Flares have been issue in recent years with the coloured smoke making its way onto the track, posing a threat to the drivers. Van Leeuwen also confirmed that the use of flares will be heavily discouraged this weekend. He added:

“Because of the popularity of the sport and Max, fans brought in these flares in Austria a few years ago.

“The image looked great on TV, and they shot footage with the flares. So a normal fan, not a hooligan but a normal fan, thinks he is a good fan if he brings a flare.

“Now you see that there are so many that it's dangerous, and it’s not good for your health. We have to inform the people now you're not a good fan if you have a flare, you're a good fan if you don't have a flare. If you see a flare that you say, ‘Come on guy, this is dangerous for my health.’

“This is also dangerous for the drivers, because I think two years ago during the formation lap in Austria, the drivers had poor vision. That was something that a normal fan did not know. They just saw two guys with a flare and then there were four guys and then eight and 16 and 32. Now we have to bring it down."