Max Verstappen’s slick‑tyre loss on the first lap of the Dutch Grand Prix threw the field into disorder as rain re‑emerged during the grid.
Chaos at Turn 3 – A Wet Track Surprise
During the formal start, a sudden shower appeared after the drivers had begun on slicks. Verstappen, pushing hard on the exit of the final corner, lost traction and crashed heavily into the wall. The Red Bull driver later said the mistake was wholly his own, remarking that the surface remained too wet for the power delivered by the car.
Trailing Verstappen, Gabriel Bortoleto almost followed suit but survived the impact with his Audi. His teammate Nico Hulkenberg, who feared a T‑bone, managed to slice clear. Bortoleto later described the corner as “full of wetness” and credited the dryness of the remainder of the track for the near‑incident.
Drivers Demand Simpler Start Options
In the riders’ post‑race press conference, Pierre Gasly criticised the dual formation lap and standing‑start approach. “I would have preferred a normal out‑lap and a faster start,” he told Motorsport.com, noting that the track had mostly dried by that point.
Red Bull standby Liam Lawson echoed Gasly’s stance, saying the safety‑car addition “doesn’t make sense” for a standing start. He added he had deliberately left extra margin at the final corner, believing the odds of a crash were high with slick tyres.
FIA Justifies Safety‑Car Formation Lap
FIA officials explained that a medical car had conducted a routine reconnaissance lap under atypical circumstances. The vehicle reported standing water around Turns 2 and 3, with the Hugenholtz corner—the first banked point—remaining visibly wet.
Given that data, race control deemed a safety‑car formation lap the safer token, maintaining the option of a rolling start should the water prove hazardous. The intent, according to the FIA spokesperson, was to keep the backup rolling‑start as a contingency.
Williams’ Perspective on the Final Corner
Williams driver Carlos Sainz argued that even with a rolling start the result would likely have been the same, as the high power output of the cars on slicks would still encounter the wet section. He said, “A non‑standing start would not have altered much.”
Pending Review: Will the Protocol Change?
The FIA has pledged to review driver feedback for the next race. The incident highlighted the tension between pre‑race strategy and on‑track weather volatility, a balance that will shape the rules ahead of future events.
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