Max Verstappen crashes out early in Dutch Grand Prix as Red Bull struggles

Max Verstappen's hopes at the Dutch Grand Prix ended early after he crashed out within a few laps on August 23, 2026. Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies characterized the weekend as very difficult for the team. Verstappen, who started seventh, lost control coming out of Turn 14 and hit the wall, prompting a red flag for debris clearance. Substitute Liam Lawson finished in seventh place after receiving a 10-second time penalty for a yellow flag infringement. Mekies noted significant performance challenges compared to previous races and indicated the need for regrouping ahead of the next event in Monza.