Max Verstappen endures Zandvoort weekend to forget

Max Verstappen’s home Formula 1 weekend ended in disappointment, with the Red Bull driver retiring before completing the opening lap at Zandvoort. The result capped a difficult return from the summer break and underlined the gap between Red Bull and its leading rivals at the Dutch circuit’s final Formula 1 appearance before its contract ends after 2026.

Verstappen lost control at the final corner after rain had left parts of the track damp shortly before the start. He had fought hard with temporary team-mate Liam Lawson during the first lap, then accelerated too early as the racing line appeared to be drying. Gabriel Bortoleto also spun at the same time, completing a troubled opening sequence.

The four-time world champion said Red Bull currently has the fourth-fastest car. He pointed to upgrades introduced by other teams while his own team had not brought comparable developments, leaving the car further behind its competitors. That lack of performance had already been evident throughout the weekend, limiting expectations before the crash.

Verstappen also said he had been feeling unwell during the event and needed the forthcoming two-week break to recover. He is due to return at Monza, where Red Bull will try to respond after a home weekend that produced neither the pace nor the finish Verstappen wanted.