The Dutch Grand Prix was suspended on Sunday following a significant crash involving Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver lost control at the final corner of Circuit Zandvoort, impacting the concrete barriers heavily. The incident occurred on the second lap of the race, necessitating an immediate red flag.
Verstappen confirmed over team radio that he was unharmed, despite the substantial damage sustained by his car. He later attributed the crash to his own error, stating he took the corner too tightly on the damp track surface.
Pre-race conditions saw rain hit the circuit approximately 45 minutes before the start, followed by drizzle. While the track was damp, all 22 drivers opted for slick tyres at the start.
Lando Norris held the lead at the time of the red flag, having started from pole position. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli were running behind him.
Norris secured pole for the Grand Prix with a time of 1:11.163, narrowly beating Russell (1:11.265) and Antonelli (1:11.296). Verstappen had qualified seventh with a 1:11.618.
The starting grid also featured Oscar Piastri in fourth, Lewis Hamilton in fifth, and Charles Leclerc in sixth. Liam Lawson, Verstappen’s temporary teammate, started eighth.
In Saturday’s Sprint race, George Russell claimed victory from pole position, marking his third Sprint win of the 2026 season. Charles Leclerc finished second, with Lando Norris in third.
Kimi Antonelli finished fourth in the Sprint, extending his lead in the Drivers’ Championship. He currently holds 224 points, 53 points clear of Lewis Hamilton, who is in second place with 171 points.
George Russell’s Sprint win moved him to 168 points, placing him third in the championship standings. He is now three points behind Hamilton and 56 points adrift of Antonelli.
Max Verstappen finished sixth in the Sprint race, while Hamilton secured seventh. Verstappen had been battling an illness throughout the weekend.
The 2026 Dutch Grand Prix is confirmed as the final Formula 1 event at Circuit Zandvoort for the foreseeable future. The promoter decided against renewing the contract beyond this season.
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali acknowledged Zandvoort’s contribution to the sport. He thanked the circuit for its role in delivering an ‘incredible event’ during its recent tenure.
Verstappen recently signed a new contract with Red Bull, extending his commitment to the team until the end of the 2030 season. This announcement was made just before his home Grand Prix.
The four-time champion indicated that this new long-term agreement is likely to be his final contract in Formula 1. He expressed satisfaction with the extension.
‘I’m really pleased with the contract extension,’ Verstappen stated, thanking Red Bull and team principal Laurent Mekies for their trust.
Sergio Perez started the Grand Prix from the pit lane. This was due to a rear suspension setup change made by Cadillac after qualifying, breaching parc fermé regulations.
Gabriel Bortoleto also experienced a spin at the final corner during the opening lap but managed to avoid contact with the barriers.
