Norris wins final Dutch Grand Prix as Verstappen crashes out

Lando Norris won the final Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort on Sunday, while Max Verstappen crashed on the opening lap of his last home race.

Norris, the reigning world champion, started from pole and won ahead of the Mercedes pair Kimi Antonelli, who leads this year’s championship, and George Russell. It was his second win in a row.

Verstappen lost control at the final corner moments after the start and hit the wall, the fourth time he has failed to finish this season. He was uninjured by the crash.

It was the first time he didn’t make it to the podium at Zandvoort since the race returned in 2021. He won the first three editions and finished second in the last two.

“It was a hard hit, but I’ve had harder ones,” Verstappen told reporters. He said he had seen a dry line forming and thought he could get back on the throttle, “but that didn’t work out well.” He was more frustrated by his pace all weekend, and said he hoped for better at the next race, in Monza.

The race was halted to clear the debris. When it restarted Antonelli passed Norris and led for more than half the race before Norris retook the lead. On Saturday, Russell had won the first sprint race held in the Netherlands, with Verstappen sixth.

The final weekend
It was the sixth and last edition of the revived Dutch Grand Prix, which the organisers chose to end rather than renew, saying they wanted to stop while the event was still at its peak.

Around 105,000 fans attended on Saturday and Sunday, but Friday did not sell out for the first time, with some 5,000 tickets unsold, according to broadcaster NOS. The first editions had needed a ballot.

King Willem-Alexander presented the trophy. The weekend was also marred by long queues on Friday and crowding that left thousands of fans late for Saturday’s sprint race.

Sporting director Jan Lammers called the six years an economic success and a boost for the region. The circuit is not closing, and has said it will host the all-electric Formula E series from 2027.