Red Bull pick up minimal points at Dutch Grand Prix after dramatic Verstappen crash

Red Bull settled for minor points at the Dutch Grand Prix as Max Verstappen had a dramatic crash.

At his home race, the Dutch star crashed heavily in semi-damp conditions at the end of the first lap, putting him out of the race and causing a red flag.

In a race where he deputised for the injured Isack Hadjar, Liam Lawson would finish 7th despite getting a time penalty.

Verstappen remains 6th in the Driver’s Championship, with the 4-time world champion on 112 points.

Lawson currently sits 9th in the overall standings, with his points accumulated at Zandvoort taking him up to 49.

The Milton Keynes-based Red Bull team are now up to 186 points but with third place McLaren picking up a second win in a row and Ferrari having two top 5 finishes, it lead to the team beginning to be left behind by the other top 3.

Hadjar would be on the sidelines watching the race, with the Frenchman unable to participate a year on from taking his first podium at the Dutch Grand Prix.

With the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort getting dropped at the end of the year, Verstappen had been hoping to put on one final show for his home crowd and continue a 100% record of finishing on the podium since Zandvoort returned to the F1 calendar.

But an eventful first lap for Verstappen would end in disaster. The four time world champion had been forced onto the grass by Lewis Hamilton on the run down to turn one and then went wheel to wheel with Lawson through the banked turn three.

As the drivers came through the final corner, Verstappen went just a fraction wider and on a track still greasy from earlier rain, it had huge consequences. Verstappen lost control and hit the wall, destroying the car, although he would walk away.

A red flag duly stopped proceedings. When it eventually resumed, with was delayed further by Ollie Bearman breaking down during a formation lap, Lawson would have a fairly straight forward race.

With the Red Bull faster than those behind but not quite able to keep up with the top 3 teams, it meant a lonely race for Lawson as he finished 7th.

Lawson would get a ten second time penalty after being deemed to be speeding through a yellow flag but it ultimately wasn’t enough to change his finishing position. It also saw him score points for Red Bull after failing to do so in two races last year.

F1 will return with the Italian Grand Prix in two weeks time.