Max Verstappen was dramatically eliminated from the Dutch Grand Prix on the opening lap after a high-speed crash at Zandvoort. The incident occurred as Verstappen was navigating the final corner at approximately 180 mph, resulting in his Red Bull hitting the concrete wall and ricocheting across the track.
Verstappen was able to communicate with his team via radio, reassuring them that he was not seriously injured. He appeared to have lost traction on the banked inside edge of the track, which was damp from rain that began falling shortly before the race started. Pierre Gasly of Alpine narrowly avoided colliding with Verstappen's car.
The red flag was shown, leading to a 30-minute delay as Verstappen's car was cleared from the circuit. Lando Norris, who started from pole position, was leading the race at the time of the stoppage.
This crash comes just days after Verstappen committed to a new contract with Red Bull, reportedly keeping him with the team until 2030. The deal, which is expected to be confirmed soon, ends speculation about his future, which had linked him with moves to teams like McLaren and Mercedes. Negotiations for the contract were reportedly at times contentious, with Verstappen's representatives seeking an increased salary beyond his reported £60 million annual deal, while Red Bull management were initially hesitant to offer a raise.