Max Verstappen suffers huge Dutch GP crash

ZANDVOORT – Max Verstappen will not see the chequered flag in his final home race in Formula 1 after the Red Bull driver sustained a huge shunt on the opening lap of the Dutch GP.

Despite conditions improving to the point where slicks were viable, a shower prior to lights out had ensured damp patches were scattered throughout the lap at Zandvoort.

Max Verstappen triggers red flag after massive Dutch GP crash

Verstappen was running in seventh position, where he started, behind Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton when he touched the inside kerb going through the banking at the last corner, pitching his Red Bull into a spin that sent him into the wall on the outside.

The damage to the Red Bull proved terminal, with the incident triggering a stoppage.

Liam Lawson, deputising for the absent Isack Hadjar in the sister Red Bull this weekend, avoided Verstappen’s spinning RB22 and will take the restart in seventh place.

Lando Norris had maintained his lead from pole position, ahead of the Mercedes duo.

The race began with a standard start following a lap behind the Safety Car after rain hit the Zandvoort circuit in the minutes before the race.

While much of the circuit had dried ahead of the start, damp patches remained – including around the final banked corner.

Gabriel Bortoleto was also caught out at the fast right-hander, the Audi driver performing a complete 360-degree spin in which he was fortunate not to be t-boned by teammate Nico Hulkenberg.

Reporting by Taylor Powling

Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.

You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!

Read Next: Ferrari’s Zandvoort qualifying deficit exposed by telemetry data