The opening stages of the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort descended into chaos after rain had started to fall during the grid procedure. Max Verstappen crashed heavily on the exit of the final corner on the opening lap of the race. The Red Bull driver admitted that it was entirely his own mistake. The Dutchman thought he could get back on the throttle, but that part of the track was clearly still too wet.

Behind Verstappen, Gabriel Bortoleto also came close to crashing, although he miraculously managed to keep his Audi out of the wall, while it was even more remarkable that team-mate Nico Hulkenberg managed to avoid him. The German immediately said over the radio that he feared he was going to T-bone Bortoleto.

According to Pierre Gasly, F1 drivers would have been able to get their tyres up to temperature more effectively if the formation lap had been completed without the safety car. Several drivers were critical of how the start procedure was carried out at Zandvoort.

Liam Lawson shared that view and added that he already knew before the start that the procedure would lead to chaos. The FIA clarified that it acted on the information available at the time, including feedback from the medical car about standing water at Turns 2 and 3.