Max Verstappen was dramatically eliminated from the Dutch Grand Prix on the first lap Sunday after a high-speed crash exiting the final corner. While decelerating from approximately 180 mph, Verstappen's Red Bull made contact with the concrete wall, ricocheting across the track.
The incident occurred as Verstappen, who started seventh, appeared to slip onto the inside track's white line. The four-time world champion was fortunate to avoid being struck by cars following behind him. He was able to radio his team immediately after the crash to confirm he was not seriously injured.
"Is he OK? That looked f
cking huge," Verstappen's stand-in teammate Liam Lawson asked over the radio, reacting to the severity of the impact. Pierre Gasly of Alpine narrowly avoided colliding with Verstappen's stationary car.
The crash brought out a red flag, halting the race for approximately 30 minutes while Verstappen's car was cleared from the track. The race was being led by Lando Norris, who started from pole position, at the time of the stoppage.
The incident occurred just days after Verstappen committed to a new contract with Red Bull, reportedly extending his deal until 2030. This agreement followed prolonged negotiations and speculation linking him with other teams, including McLaren and Mercedes. The new contract is expected to be confirmed ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend.