By Alan Baldwin
ZANDVOORT, Netherlands, Aug 23 (Reuters) – Max Verstappen crashed out of his home Dutch Grand Prix at the end of the first lap on Sunday, halting the race and forcing a re-start.
“I’m OK,” Red Bull’s four-time Formula One world champion said over the team radio.
Verstappen’s car went into the concrete wall on the outside of the banked corner before skidding back across the track, with one wheel breaking off and running loose, and scattering debris around.
Verstappen, a three-time Dutch GP winner who had started in seventh place, got out of the car unassisted at the Zandvoort circuit that is dropping off the F1 calendar after this year’s race.
“I think he just put a bit too much throttle down and you’re gone. He’s the greatest driver out there, one of the greatest of all time, that just goes to show how difficult it is in these conditions,” said 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg on Sky Sports television.
“Probably that was Max’s mistake.”
Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto also spun behind Verstappen on a damp track, after some rain before the initial start, with teammate Nico Hulkenberg fortunate not to hit him.
The race re-started after an extra formation lap with the cars lining up on the grid.
(Reporting by Alan BaldwinEditing by Christian Radnedge)
