Max Verstappen will have delivered a memorable final display to his fans in the Dutch Grand Prix, but for all the wrong reasons following the Red Bull driver’s heavy crash and demise at the end of the race’s opening lap.
After a challenging start on a slightly damp track, Verstappen was hugging the inside line through Zandvoort’s banked Turn 14 when a wheel dipped on the white line unsettled the Red Bull which veered off towards the opposite side where it heavily clouted the barriers before coming to rest on the opposite side.
While chaos ensued, everyone fortunately steered clear of Verstappen’s wreck as Alpine’s Pierre Gasly took swift evasive action to clear the spinning Red Bull.
Further back, Audi almost suffered a catastrophic intra-team clash when Gabriel Bortoleto – also caught out by the greasy conditions at the bottom of the corner – spun directly into the path of Nico Hülkenberg.
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With carbon fiber scattered and the track blocked, the field trickled into the pit lane to wait out the inevitable red flag.
Before the stoppage, Verstappen had only managed to claw his way up to seventh following a dismal qualifying performance.
Meanwhile, polesitter Lando Norris successfully held off the pack through the opening corners, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli snatched second place from George Russell.
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