The Dutch Grand Prix has been halted under red flag conditions on the opening lap due to a massive crash involving local favorite Max Verstappen.
As the first lap concluded on a damp track, the Red Bull driver lost grip after clipping the inner white line at Zandvoort’s final bend—the high-speed, banked Luyendyk curve that feeds onto the pit straight.
His car spun nose-first into the outer barrier before sliding back across the circuit and coming to rest on the inside of the track.
Shortly after, the Dutch driver confirmed over the radio that he was unhurt and offered his apologies to the team for the premature end to his afternoon.
Luckily, no trailing vehicles collided with Verstappen’s stranded car; Pierre Gasly of Alpine swerved to avoid the wreckage, while further back, Nico Hulkenberg’s Audi just missed a major collision when his teammate Gabriel Bortoleto spun directly ahead of him.
During the suspension, competitors lined up in the pit lane to wait for the race to resume. Drivers had to steer through scattered debris near the pit entrance, though regulations permit teams to swap tires while the session is halted. The restart has been scheduled for 15:33 local time.
Max Verstappen
Photo by: Anni Graf – Formula 1 via Getty Images
Before his crash, Verstappen was occupying seventh place following a difficult qualification. Up front, pole-sitter Lando Norris kept his lead through a hectic opening, while title leader Kimi Antonelli overtook George Russell to claim second.
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari moved up two spots to secure fourth, running ahead of Oscar Piastri’s McLaren and his teammate Lewis Hamilton.
This incident brings a disappointing conclusion to Verstappen’s six-year run of home races, which saw him claim victory in the first three returns of the Dutch GP from 2021 to 2023. The event is set to drop off the Formula 1 schedule after promoters chose not to seek a new deal with the sport’s leadership.
Just days prior, the quadruple world champion had confirmed a contract extension with Red Bull that secures his seat through the 2030 season.
