Max Verstappen has confirmed that he is suffering from an illness at the Dutch Grand Prix.
This weekend's trip to Zandvoort is set to be the last for the foreseeable future, with the circuit not extending its contract with F1 beyond the 2026 season.
Since returning to the schedule in 2021, the Dutch GP has been won three times by Verstappen.
However, a fourth victory on home soil appears unlikely this weekend as Red Bull is lacking pace compared to their rivals.
Verstappen ended Saturday's qualifying session in seventh place, one spot ahead of team-mate Liam Lawson, who is standing in for an injured Isack Hadjar.
The four-time champion has been thrown a further obstacle, admitting he is having flu-like symptoms.
“I’ve felt better, yes,” he told select media including RacingNews365. “Yeah, just not a lot of energy.”
However, Verstappen insisted that it is having little impact on his performance behind the wheel.
“I don’t think so. I think once you’re in the car, it’ll be fine.
“It hasn’t been great all weekend. It’s just not pleasant. Just sick, like everyone else when you’re sick.”
Get the latest F1 news from RacingNews365 directly in your Google feed! Click on the link below and you’ll see your favourite F1 website appearing even more often. That way, you’ll never miss any news, analyses, interviews, or exclusives.
Follow RacingNews365 on GoogleMost read
In this article
Never miss a thing from the Formula 1 season! Add the 2026 F1 schedule to your calendar at the touch of a button. Subscribe below and put the dates and times of every race directly on your PC or smartphone, so you don't miss a second from the new season.
Download the F1 calendar Download the F1 calendar
A variant with just the race and qualifying is also available.
Click here to download it..
Join the conversation!