Verstappen crashes out of his final Zandvoort GP; Norris wins

Posted on 8/23/2026, 4:44 PM AST | Updated on 8/23/2026, 4:45 PM AST

ZANDVOORT – Max Verstappen’s final Formula 1 race at Zandvoort ended in major disappointment. The Red Bull driver crashed at the end of the opening lap, while McLaren’s Lando Norris won the Dutch Grand Prix.

After starting on a drying track following pre-race rain, Verstappen initially held seventh place. But at the Arie Luyendijk corner, he lost control of his RB22 after riding the kerb and crashed heavily, bringing out a red flag. Verstappen later indicated that he was physically okay.

The retirement was a major blow for the more than 100,000 fans attending on Sunday and for a weekend that drew a record 325,000 spectators.

After the restart, the race remained competitive until the end. Kimi Antonelli briefly took the lead, but Norris fought back and passed the Italian on lap 54. Norris won, Antonelli finished second and George Russell took third.

For Verstappen, the crash marked a bitter end to his final home race at Zandvoort after having finished first or second in every previous edition.