Max Verstappen SHOCKS home F1 crowd with embarrassing Dutch Grand Prix blunder

Max Verstappen, Red Bull, Belgium, 2025 — Photo: © IMAGO

Dutch Grand Prix

Max Verstappen SHOCKS home crowd with embarrassing Dutch GP blunder

Max Verstappen has endured a nightmare return to F1

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Friday 29 August 2025 13:51 Updated: 14:04

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Max Verstappen made an uncharacteristic error at the Dutch Grand Prix after the F1 champion followed up his FP1 session in the gravel.

The Dutchman stopped on the grid for his practice start after the chequered flag, but when he went to accelerate away he locked up at the first corner and his rear wheels beached in the gravel.

Verstappen kicked up gravel as he tried to repair the error, but finally reached the escape road and his car did not have to be salvaged.

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The bizarre moment shocked home fans and the Sky Sports F1 team alike, with pundit Karun Chandhok commenting: "That's a very uncharacteristic error to see from Max Verstappen, I have to say."

Luckily, the incident did not hinder Verstappen's FP1 running, with the Dutchman finishing the session in a P6 - below both Aston Martins and a Williams.

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Following his foray into the gravel, Verstappen did not acquire significant damage to his Red Bull, allowing him to resume his weekend running.

Verstappen entered the Dutch GP weekend with a rather philosophical attitude, and appeared unfazed that the 2025 title was out of sight.

When asked during Thursday's FIA press conference whether it was difficult to remain motivated during this tough period with Red Bull, Verstappen provided a calm response.

"It's not that hard, to be honest. There will be a time that it won’t happen," he said.

"Unfortunately, that is a bit the case at the moment. But it doesn’t make sense for me to be frustrated or be screaming about it, because it's just a waste of energy.

"That’s not what I'm doing. I think we just need to look at the car and the operation and how we can move forward in the future and be better. That’s what we are doing currently."

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