Max Verstappen’s farewell at the Dutch GP ended after just one lap. The accident in the last corner of the opening lap gained prominence in the international press in the analyses of the latest edition of Formula 1 in Zandvoort.
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The Dutchman lost control of his Red Bull on a section still wet from the earlier rain. The rear slipped when Verstappen accelerated, and the car crossed the track before crashing hard into the barrier. The RB22 was severely damaged, but the four-time world champion emerged unscathed.
The German BILD highlighted the contrast between Verstappen’s expectations and the outcome. Before the start, the driver had asked fans to turn the farewell at Zandvoort into a race to be remembered forever. The newspaper stated that this happened, but unexpectedly.
Meanwhile, AS called the episode a ‘very heavy fall of Verstappen that silences Zandvoort’. According to the newspaper, the accident cooled the 105,000 spectators present and abruptly ended the festivities. The Spanish daily also emphasized that errors of this magnitude are rare for the four-time world champion.
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The British The Guardian highlighted the safety of current Formula 1 cars, considering the damage to the Red Bull and the fact that the driver walked away unharmed.
L’Équipe drew attention to what happened after the first impact. With a loose wheel, the Red Bull crossed the track again, but no other driver hit the damaged car. The French daily described the absence of a new collision as a ‘small miracle’. There were also no drivers hit by debris. Pierre Gasly, however, received, according to the newspaper, a shower of carbon fiber on the nose of his Alpine.
With Verstappen out of the race, The Guardian highlighted Norris for his performance and victory over Kimi Antonelli. The newspaper considered the end of the last Formula 1 race in Zandvoort strong, but for the local hero, the farewell ended on the first lap.
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