Formula 1 and the Dutch Grand Prix promoter have agreed a one-year contract extension that will keep Circuit Zandvoort on the Formula 1 calendar until the 2026 season. The promoter has decided not to continue on the schedule after 2026, following extensive thought and debate.

The resumption of the Dutch Grand Prix in 2021 coincided with an era of dominance for local star Max Verstappen, who has won the race three times and been named World Champion in each of the event's four editions. The event has become well known for its experience, with Dutch and foreign tourists alike converging to see the thrill of Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, F1 Academy and other teams battle around the circuit's famed banked bends. It has also established itself as a premier sustainable sports event, pioneering technology that are now utilised throughout the Formula One season.

The 2025 edition of the event is scheduled to take place from 29 to 31 August. The date for the last race in 2026, which will feature a Sprint for the first time at the Dutch Grand Prix, will be confirmed next year. Tickets for the 2025 race are already being sold, and details on the 2026 final event will be released soon.

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO, Formula 1, said, “I am incredibly grateful for the work that the team at the Dutch Grand Prix have done in recent years. They raised the bar for European Grands Prix in terms of event spectacle and entertainment, supported the development of young talent by hosting F2, F3 and our F1 Academy series and have also pioneered sustainable solutions that have inspired our events around the world as we drive towards being Net Zero by 2030. All parties positively collaborated to find a solution to extend the race, with many options, including alternation or annual events on the table, and we respect the decision from the promoter to finish its amazing run in 2026. I want to thank all the team at the Dutch Grand Prix and the Municipality of Zandvoort who have been fantastic partners to Formula 1.”

Robert van Overdijk, Director, Dutch Grand Prix, said, “The Dutch Grand Prix is the result of a unique collaboration between SportVibes, TIG Sports and Circuit Zandvoort, who shared the ambition of bringing the race back to the Netherlands. What we have achieved so far is undoubtedly a huge success. The appreciation from our visitors, drivers and teams has been unprecedented, and we are incredibly proud of that. While today’s announcement signals the end of a monumental era, we are confident there is plenty more for fans to look forward to at the Dutch Grand Prix in 2025 and 2026, including the Sprint in 2026. We are a privately owned and operated business, and we must balance the opportunities presented by continuing to host the event, against other risks and responsibilities. We have decided to go out on a high with two more incredible Dutch Grands Prix in 2025 and 2026. We wanted to take this step while our event is adored and supported by passionate fans, residents and the Formula 1 community. I want to thank Stefano Domenicali and all the team at Formula 1 for the hard work that has seen multiple contract extensions realised and the Dutch Grand Prix be such a success.”

Axalta Coating Systems, a leading global coatings company, has announced Evergreen Sprint as its Global Automotive Color of the Year for 2025.

Axalta has been introducing its automotive colour of the year for 11 years, and this is the second time that a green hue has been highlighted. Evergreen Sprint honours the renowned British racing green, a hue that has adorned the best racing vehicles and represents performance and speed. It is a deep, rich forest green. Axalta's newest hue is ideal for all car types because it combines the excitement of motorsport with a hint of refinement for sedans and SUVs.

Dan Benton, Global Color Marketing Director, Axalta, said, “This striking hue revs up our global automotive colour of the year. Evergreen Sprint stands out on the road and evokes the spirit of competition and adventure. The dynamic colour is sure to attract the hearts of passionate drivers.”

Philadelphia-headquartered Axalta Coating Systems has announced ‘Evergreen Sprint’ as its 2025 Global Automotive Colour of the Year. The American company supplies basecoats and clearcoats for colour and beautification along with primers, electrocoats and powder applications for surface protection.

The latest result also marks the 11th year Axalta has introduced its automotive colour of the year, and interestingly it is also the second time a green shade has been featured in the list.

The company describes evergreen sprint colour as a rich, deep forest green that pays homage to the legendary British racing green. According to Axalta the shade has graced the finest racing machines and symbolises speed and performance. It also captures the thrill of motorsport while bringing a touch of sophistication to sedans and SUVs.

Dan Benton, Global Colour Marketing Director, Axalta, said, “This striking hue revs up our global automotive colour of the year. Evergreen Sprint stands out on the road and evokes the spirit of competition and adventure. The dynamic colour is sure to attract the hearts of passionate drivers.”

Since 2015, experts at Axalta collaborate to come out with the up-and-coming shades for the automotive market. According to Axalta’s Global Automotive 2023 Colour Popularity Report, green was found on approximately 2 percent of vehicles worldwide. 

BASF Coatings has released its report titled ‘Colour Report For Automotive OEM Coatings’ to provide a detailed exploration of the recent colour trends in the automotive industry.

BASF Coatings computed the colour distribution mentioned in the report using the information that was available about the manufacture of automobiles worldwide and the application of paint to passenger cars. According to the report, as buyers stray from conventional favourites like white and silver, the worldwide automobile colour landscape continues to change in 2024. According to the report, this change is opening the door for a more varied palette, warm neutrals and vivid colours to become more popular throughout the business. In particular, customers still prefer white, but warm hues like yellow and beige are becoming more and more desirable, and green is becoming more and more popular everywhere. Additionally, achromatic hues like grey and black are becoming more popular.

The report also highlights the region-wise trend in automotive coating based on consumer preference. As per the report, beige is gaining popularity in the EMEA region as achromatic colours continue steady growth in the region, increasing from 72 percent in 2021 to almost 80 percent in 2024. White remains the most preferred colour, while grey comes second.

In the Americas, grey is shining as one of the most versatile and captivating colours with almost 20 percent of the total market share. Compared to 2023, black colour has decreased by two percentage points, while white has had a five percentage point loss, which is even more notable.

The Asia Pacific market, on the other hand, is dominated by black colour. With achromatic colours remaining the top choice for 83 percent of consumers, black colour secured a gain of two percentage points in popularity, while white saw a decline of over two points. Chromatic colours with soft tones, particularly yellow, are also on the rise in this region, the report says.

Raymond Group, a leading diversified group with business interests in textile, apparel and realty, has announced the Raymond 100 Autofest as part of its centenary year celebration.

The three-day event organised by Super Car Club Garage (SCCG) starting from 10 January 2025 will take place at JK Gram, Thane, Maharashtra. The Raymond 100 Autofest will bring together supercars, superbikes, vintage classic to modern rivals, showcasing a range of automotive design language. Global racing icons, Mika Hakkinen and Narain Karthikeyan, alongside motorsport veteran Gaurav Gill are also expected to be part of the event. Amongst the various classic vehicles present over at the event, the centre piece will be cricket legend Ravi Shastri’s iconic Audi 100, restored by the Super Car Club Garage (SCCG).

The third-gen Audi 100, which went on sale internationally around 1982, was declared as a ‘national asset’ by Shastri himself after Gautam Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director, Raymond Group, handed over the restored vehicle to him.

“The Raymond 100 Autofest is more than a showcase of automobiles; it’s a celebration of passion, ingenuity and our deep connection with the community. This event encapsulates our ethos of excellence and evolution, much like the automotive world we’re celebrating – a perfect ode to our remarkable 100-year journey,” said Singhania.