NEWS
Bitter Home Race for Verstappen: "Went on the throttle too early"
Of all places, in front of the "Orange Army", the race ended for Verstappen after just a few seconds. Treacherous conditions punished one of his rare driving errors.
It was a huge party, but without a "happy ending" for his "Army".
Over 230,000 Dutch fans created an excellent atmosphere throughout the weekend at what was probably the Red Bull star's last home race.
Rain Shower as a Brief Hope
Naturally, the atmosphere was at its peak just before the start of the race. Although Max Verstappen started the GP only from P7, hopes for a comeback were fueled about half an hour before the race began.
Suddenly, a rain shower began, creating a good mood among some fans of the local hero. Because one thing is clear to F1 fans: Verstappen is the best rain driver!
But after a few seconds, disillusionment followed. The four-time champion lost control of his car on the first lap and crashed into the barriers in the final corner under wet conditions with slick tyres.
Verstappen after Crash: "I thought I could hit the throttle now"
Although Gabriel Bortoleto in the Audi also spun in the same corner and the entire field risked with slick tyres, only Verstappen crashed.
"I was simply surprised. It was still quite wet there, but I saw the dry spot and thought: 'Now you can go on the throttle'," said the 28-year-old Dutchman. He was also struggling with flu symptoms and was not feeling well.
Verstappen certainly didn't wish for such a "farewell race" in front of his home fans. Nevertheless, his three consecutive home wins between 2021 and 2023 will most likely remain in the memory of his fans. Moreover, they can look forward to another four years with Verstappen in Formula 1, as is well known.
