What David Coulthard shouted immediately after Max Verstappen’s epic save at the Dutch Grand Prix

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Max Verstappen opted for an alternate strategy at the start of Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix. With the rest of the top 10 on mediums, the Red Bull driver went for the soft.

The goal was to make progress at the start, even it meant hanging on thereafter. And sure enough, Verstappen passed Lando Norris, who had started second, around the outside of turn one.

But the reigning world champion’s home race was so nearly over moments later. He suffered a dramatic slide on the run to turn three – one that threatened to take him and at least one McLaren out – but somehow managed to collect it.

Norris had indicated before the race that he was confident of repassing Verstappen in the event that they swapped places at the start. Within around 10 laps, he was back through.

David Coulthard in awe of Max Verstappen’s ‘hunger’ at Dutch Grand Prix

Verstappen is synonymous with staggering car control, but F1TV’s David Coulthard was still stunned during commentary. He’s unsure if any other driver could have kept the car facing in the right direction.

He said it was spectacular enough that it could have featured in the recent ‘F1 movie’. It was also a testament to his ultra-aggressive ‘mentality’.

At the Emilia Romagna GP earlier this year, Coulthard’s reaction to Verstappen’s extraordinary first-corner move on Oscar Piastri went viral. He likened it to an ‘out of body experience’.

“That is what hunger looks like!” Coulthard shouted immediately after the Zandvoort save. “He was not going to give it up!

He later added: “It tells you something about his mentality. He wasn’t going, ‘Okay, I’m happy that I’ve got one place’. He was definitely thinking, ‘I’m going to take it around the outside’. Look at that catch! Few, if any, could have held that.

“Almost like something you’d expect to see in the F1 movie. It’s just incredible!”

Jos Verstappen’s major revelation about Max Verstappen’s F1 future

Verstappen was predictably gapped by Norris when the McLaren one-two was restored. He’s able to show his masterful talent in glimpses, but it’s not enough to challenge the dominant papaya cars at the moment.

While it’s a frustrating situation, it’s one he can tolerate until the end of the year. If it continues into 2027, however, then it’s likely to lead to his exit.

According to his father, Verstappen considered both Mercedes and Ferrari for 2026. He ultimately decided to stay put.

Fernando Alonso thinks Verstappen could win the title in a Racing Bulls, at least this year. With teammate Yuki Tsunoda struggling, he seems to be once again outperforming his car’s realistic potential.