Max Verstappen’s final Dutch Grand Prix ends on the opening lap

This weekend marked the “Final Lap” for the Dutch Grand Prix, as the race will drop off the Formula 1 schedule after this season. That also makes it the final home race for living legend Max Verstappen, in front of the Sea of Orange that would welcome him at every Dutch Grand Prix.

Unfortunately for the Red Bull driver, his personal final lap at the Dutch Grand Prix came on the opening lap of Sunday’s main event.

With wet conditions facing the grid Sunday at Zandvoort, as the rain eased in the hours leading up to the start, the Formation Lap took place behind the Safety Car, but race officials did call for a standing start. But on the opening lap Verstappen was squeezed to the inside, found the kerb on the final corner, and suffered a massive shunt as he then slide up the banked track and into the outside wall:

Verstappen immediately radioed in that he was okay, with several drivers including his teammate for the weekend Liam Lawson reporting that it was a “huge” crash from their vantage point:

Here is a look at the shunt from Pierre Gasly, who was running behind Verstappen on the opening lap:

Here is another look at Verstappen’s trip into the wall:

The crash brought out the red flag, putting the final Dutch Grand Prix on pause for the moment.