Aug.24 (GMM) Max Verstappen has escaped injury after a heavy, almost head-on crash into the wall ended his final Dutch GP on the opening lap at Zandvoort.
The Red Bull driver lost control in the banked final corner on the partly wet track and hit the barrier at high speed, with part of the car also flying towards the marshal area.
Giedo van der Garde told Viaplay the impact was severe.
“It’s a mega-heavy crash,” he said. “You drive full like that against a concrete wall with 270 or 280kph. That’s a serious blow.”
“Fortunately, he’s ok and there’s nothing wrong with him. I spoke to his trainer for a while.
“He said he’s ok.”
Verstappen was taken to the medical centre for the mandatory checks and only spoke to the media much later, after watching much of the race.
“I just wanted to take a look at the race, so I took some time for that,” he explained.
Asked whether he was physically affected, he replied simply: “No.”
Verstappen said the car snapped unexpectedly as he approached the drying line. “There were a few lower than me,” he argued.
“The car broke out for me at a strange moment and then I couldn’t catch it anymore. Ultimately, it’s just my fault, but it was a weird moment.”
He later added: “It was quite a crash, but I’ve been through worse.”
“It can happen. I got caught off guard.”
“It was still pretty wet in that corner and as soon as I saw the dry patch approaching, I thought: now you can floor it. But that clearly didn’t work.”
The Dutchman had also been ill throughout the weekend, although he said he felt somewhat better on Sunday.
“Physically in any case,” Verstappen explained. “My nose is still blocked and I still have a bit of a cough.”
Team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed Verstappen is fit to race again at Monza.
“That’s the most important thing: Max is doing well,” said the Frenchman. “He will also be able to get back in the car next week.”
Mekies was less happy with Red Bull’s overall pace.
“It seems we’ve taken a step backwards, if you compare it to the races before the summer break. Session after session was more difficult than in Budapest, Spa, or Austria.”
“So we have some difficult work to do to repackage us.”
Stand-in teammate Liam Lawson at least salvaged P7, with Mekies praising his one-off return to the senior team.
“It’s never easy to get into another car of another team for one race,” he said. “He did a good job and was only one tenth behind Max in qualifying.”
Hadjar is meanwhile expected back for Monza.
Join Grand Prix Tours in Austin, Texas for the high-energy 2026 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Experience nonstop action on one of Formula 1’s most exciting tracks, featuring dramatic elevation changes, thrilling overtakes, and a packed race weekend. Off the track, enjoy a festival atmosphere with live music, world-famous BBQ, and buzzing nightlife. Your Grand Prix Tours package includes a fully curated race weekend, highlighted by exclusive access to our private F1 Celebrity Talk Show, where guests gain insider insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives. With demand soaring and this event quickly becoming a modern American racing tradition, now is the time to secure your spot for an unforgettable Austin Grand Prix experience.
SHOW PACKAGES
There are motorsport events, and then there is the Indianapolis 500, the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Next year marks Grand Prix Tours' 42nd Indianapolis 500 tour and our decades of experience and local connections provide exclusive access that few fans ever enjoy, including police escorts on race day, a Dallara IndyCar Factory tour, Gasoline Alley and Legends Day, the Driver Introduction Ceremony, and a private dinner with former Indy driver Derek Daly. Combined with excellent hotel accommodations, seamless event planning, and Grand Prix Tours' signature service, this is far more than a race weekend; it's a once-in-a-lifetime motorsport experience. With tour spaces limited each year, we encourage you to reserve your place early for the 111th Indianapolis 500.
SHOW PACKAGES
Experience Formula 1 at its most iconic with an unforgettable trip to the 2027 Grand Prix de Monaco. Feel the excitement as the world’s best drivers race through the legendary streets of Monte Carlo, surrounded by superyachts, Mediterranean views, and the unmistakable glamour of Monaco. From incredible race viewing to carefully selected accommodations, Grand Prix Tours brings you closer to the action at one of the most prestigious and spectacular events in all of motorsport.
SHOW PACKAGES
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test of speed, strategy, and endurance. Watch the world's top manufacturers battle for 24 nonstop hours in one of motorsport's most prestigious events. With Grand Prix Tours handling your accommodations, transfers, and ticket options, all that's left is to experience this unforgettable bucket-list race.
SHOW PACKAGES
Feel the roar of Formula 1 at its spiritual home. Silverstone is one of the fastest and most demanding circuits in the world, where brave overtakes, lightning-fast direction changes, and flat-out commitment separate the best from the rest. Combined with the electric atmosphere created by hundreds of thousands of passionate fans, the British Grand Prix delivers a race weekend unlike any other.
SHOW PACKAGES