David Coulthard slams £2.5m-a-year F1 driver’s unforgivable Dutch Grand Prix ‘mistake’ at Zandvoort

Follow us on Google Discover

Oscar Piastri took pole position for the 2025 F1 Dutch Grand Prix in a McLaren front-row lockout, as the Australian denied title rival Lando Norris by 0.012s in qualifying.

Yet while the papaya pals could celebrate in the first round back from the summer break at Zandvoort on Saturday, David Coulthard took issue with the exploits of one of their rivals in qualifying. The Dutch GP weekend has not started as flawlessly for all as it has for McLaren.

Norris had dominated practice at Zandvoort, as the 25-year-old set the pace over FP1, FP2 and FP3. The Briton even set the pace during Q2, but Piastri responded in Q1 and Q3 as the headwind into Turn 1 increased. Piastri set a 1:08.662 lap to take his fifth pole of the season.

David Coulthard slams Lance Stroll for his unacceptable Dutch Grand Prix qualifying crash

But the results of qualifying for the 2025 F1 Dutch GP at Zandvoort on Saturday made for far more dreary reading for Aston Martin, after Lance Stroll crashed again. The 26-year-old saw his session come to an early end during Q1 when he spun into Kumhobocht and hit the wall.

READ MORE: Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Stroll destroyed his Aston Martin in FP2 at Zandvoort when the Canadian wrecked the right-hand side of his car at Hugenholtzbocht. Aston Martin had to break curfew this Friday night to repair his AMR25, too, but their work was then wasted within only minutes of qualifying.

Without having posted a competitive flying lap time during Q1, Stroll put his left-hand front and rear wheels on the grass entering Turn 13. The mistake meant the Montreal native, who is making his 184th Grand Prix appearance this weekend, lost control and found the barrier.

Aston Martin could not repair Stroll’s car before the conclusion of Q1, so he qualified P20 for the Dutch GP. And Coulthard could not forgive the Canadian for the costly mistake, which he says an F1 driver should not make. Fernando Alonso qualified P10 in the other Aston Martin.

Coulthard said on F1TV after Stroll’s crash during qualifying for the Dutch GP: “It’s a mistake, but it’s not a mistake a race driver should make. Stroll had both tyres on the grass.”

F1 fans urge Aston Martin to replace Lance Stroll after his Q1 crash at Zandvoort

Only Sauber star Nico Hulkenberg has failed to advance from Q1 as often as Stroll so far this season. The German has also fallen at the first hurdle 10 times this year after qualifying P17 for the Dutch GP. Hulkenberg is also yet to reach Q3 in 2025, but he has made Q2 five times.

READ MORE: All to know about Aston Martin F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Coulthard was also not the only person to take issue with Stroll after crashing during Q1 this Saturday, as throngs of Formula 1 fans have also urged Aston Martin to replace the Canadian after his 10th Q1 exit so far in 2025. Stroll has reached Q2 three times and got into Q3 twice.

One fan claimed on X after Stroll’s crash during qualifying for the Dutch GP: “Such a waste of that seat. He just bins it.” Another fan told Aston Martin to “Put Drugovich in [and] get Stroll out,” referencing the team’s reserve driver and 2022 Formula 2 champion, Felipe Drugovich.

Another fan also begged Aston Martin: “Please give the seat to someone worthy, it’s such a waste.” While one fan pleaded, “get him off the grid,” and another added, “he shouldn’t be in Formula 1.” One fan even bluntly reacted to Stroll’s crash during Q1 by demanding, “fire him”.

Stroll’s £2.5m a year Aston Martin contract is set to run through at least the 2026 F1 season, after the Silverstone crew signed the Canadian to new terms in June 2024. He is also the son of Aston Martin’s billionaire owner, Lawrence Stroll, who is desperate to see Lance succeed.