Motor racing-Dutch GP re-starts after Verstappen crashes on opening lap


Formula One F1 - Dutch Grand Prix - Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, Netherlands - August 23, 2026 Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson in action at the start of the race REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

ZANDVOORT, ⁠Netherlands, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Max Verstappen crashed out of ⁠his home Dutch Grand Prix at the end ‌of the first lap on Sunday, halting the race and forcing a re-start.

"I'm OK," Red Bull's four-time Formula One world champion said ​over the team radio.

Verstappen's car went ⁠into the concrete ⁠wall on the outside of the banked corner before skidding ⁠back ‌across the track, with one wheel breaking off and running loose, and scattering debris around.

Verstappen, ⁠a three-time Dutch GP winner who had ​started in ‌seventh place, got out of the car unassisted at ⁠the Zandvoort ​circuit that is dropping off the F1 calendar after this year's race.

"I think he just put a bit ⁠too much throttle down and you're ​gone. He's the greatest driver out there, one of the greatest of all time, that just goes to show ⁠how difficult it is in these conditions," said 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg on Sky Sports television.

"Probably that was Max's mistake."

Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto also spun behind Verstappen ​on a damp track, after some ⁠rain before the initial start, with teammate Nico Hulkenberg ​fortunate not to hit him.

The ‌race re-started after an extra formation ​lap with the cars lining up on the grid.

(Reporting by Alan BaldwinEditing by Christian Radnedge)

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