Max Verstappen crashes out of Dutch GP: 'Disappointing weekend'

Published on 23 August 2026 by Florence Cobben

Max Verstappen’s race met a disappointing and premature end when he suffered a big crash at the end of the first lap of the Dutch Grand Prix. Max had a promising launch from his starting spot from P7, but lost his momentum in the ensuing traffic of a race start, and so emerged still in seventh once the dust on the opening lap frenzy settled. The last turn of the lap was slippery, and Max met an untimely end when he lost control of the RB22 and flew into the barriers at high speed. All other cars managed to evade the Oracle Red Bull-driver, and Max himself emerged from the car unharmed. Lando Norris, driving for McLaren, won the race, followed by Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.

Max reflects on his unfortunate race: “I got caught out. It was still quite wet in that corner, and as soon as I saw the dry patch coming, I was like, "Now you can accelerate." But clearly that didn't work, so (it was) probably still a bit too early. It was a decent hit, but I've had worse.”

The car’s speed didn’t leave Max with much to write home about either: “Well, I think overall we had a disappointing weekend pace-wise. We just couldn't really fight with the guys ahead, so that's probably the most disappointing part. But of course I wish that we could have done a little bit more in the race. But looking at the pace that we are showing, I don't think it was really possible anyway. But yeah, still would have liked to race, still would have liked to try and done a good job. But hopefully in Monza we can be a little more competitive.”

Nevertheless, Max stays realistic about his chances this season: “I'm just looking forward to a week break where I can just recover, because I really didn't feel good. So, I wish for more, but, you know, you need to be realistic. This season we are the 4th fastest team, so it's not like (when) walking up to Zandvoort suddenly, you know, we can do some magic things. It's just how it is. Other teams have brought upgrades. We haven't. When you're already on the back foot, it's even more on the back foot. So it's nothing surprising. It's just the reality that we live in.”

Reflecting on the last Dutch Grand Prix for the foreseeable future, Max has one last comment: “I wish I had a better last race here, but I’ve had so many positive and beautiful moments on this track.”

In spite of no predictions of rain, the downpours started half an hour before race start. The drivers approach the starting grid cautiously - the track starts to dry up the closer the clock ticks to race start, and so many teams adopt slicks for the opening phase. The top four cars are all on medium compounds, while Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson start on the soft compound tyre. Both Cadillacs (Sergio Perez and Valterri Bottas) start from the back row on hard tyres.

Max has an excellent getaway from P7. He makes a move to overtake the Ferraris ahead of him, but is forced onto the grass from lack of room. He changes gears and starts defending seventh place from teammate Liam Lawson, who is temporarily replacing Isack Hadjar. Max manages to shake the Kiwi from his back, while Lando Norris gains control of the lead, followed by Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.

It’s in the last lap that Max loses control over his RB22. He crashes at high speed into the walls and sustains heavy damage to the car. The hometown hero reports over the radio that he’s uninjured. Gabriel Bortoleto faces a similar fate, and spins out in the exact same turn, but manages to correct his car and rejoin the race before it’s too late. In response, the stewards summon a red flag.

After a half hour interlude the race is resumed with a standing start. On the way to the grid, Oliver Bearman’s Haas grinds to a halt, and the start gets delayed yet again. As the race finally gets underway, Kimi Antonelli seizes the lead, followed by Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri passes George Russell in the Scheivlak to claim P3.

In lap 18, Russell is the first of the leading cars to make his pitstop. Piastri heads in a lap later, but due to a slow pitstop, the Australian has to concede a place to Russell. In lap 22, Antonelli and Norris pit, but emerge ahead of Russell back onto the track. Hamilton pits in lap 26.

In lap 41 race leader Antonelli heads in for his second stop, while Norris hedges his bets and only heads in on lap 48. On his fresh tyres, he beings his pursuit of Antonelli and passes him in lap 54. He also makes quick work of passing fellow-Brit Hamilton, who hasn’t pitted for the second time yet.

A lap later, Esteban Ocon’s Haas also crawls to a halt, which summons a safety car. Antonelli and Hamilton seize the opportunity to make a pitstop, while race leader Norris and Russell stay out. Antonelli emerges third back onto the track, behind Russell, and Hamilton rejoins the race in P4. In lap 66, Mercedes urges George Russell to let Antonelli through so he can claim P2. Russel acquiesces. In the end, it is Lando Norris who claims his second Grand Prix victory in a row. Antonelli and Russell’s Mercedes’ cross the line in second and third place, followed by Hamilton and Leclerc’s Ferraris. Oscar Piastri finishes P6, Liam Lawson in P7. Nico Hulkenberg comes home ‘best of the rest’ in eighth, and Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly complete the top ten.

Results Grand Prix Netherlands: