Max Verstappen breaks silence after fellow Dutchman Dilano Van’t Hoff succumbs to death in a horrific incident at Spa

The Dutch superstar was only 18 years old, and succumbed to his injuries at Spa.

Max Verstappen breaks silence after fellow Dutchman Dilano Van’t Hoff succumbs to death in a horrific incident at Spa

Max Verstappen and Dilano Van't Hoff (Credits: The Independent)

The world of motorsport mourns yet another tragic incident at Spa-Francorchamps, as Dilano Van’t Hoff, a driver for the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine, aged just 18, tragically passed away after being involved in a crash during a rain-soaked race. The Dutch teenager was part of a multi-car incident that occurred at the exit of Raidillon.

Along with the rest of the world of motorsport, two-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen also expressed his deepest condolences to Van’t Hoff’s family following his compatriot’s untimely passing on Twitter (now X).

YouTube video
Extremely sad to hear the news about Dilano today.. I want to send my condolences to Dilano’s family and loved ones. Rest in peace.
Verstappen wrote on X.

According to footage of the incident, Van’t Hoff’s orange MP Motorsport car spun on the track due to the wet weather conditions following contact with another racer. The visibility was severely affected by the spray, and unfortunately, another car collided with the side of his immobilized vehicle at high speed.

FS Video

The treacherous conditions warranted a red flag, but the race went ahead anyway

Historic recurrence has struck the circuit spanning the Belgian countryside. A favorite among racing drivers and fans, the track is known for its fast, hilly, and twisty nature. However, the circuit’s history includes 49 driver fatalities since its opening, highlighting its inherent dangers. Formula 1 fans are still mourning the unfortunate death of Anthoine Hubert, a promising Ferrari driver, who succumbed to his injuries in a tragic accident in F2 in 2019 at this very circuit.

The torrential 2021 Belgian GP (Credits: The Guardian)
The torrential 2021 Belgian GP (Credits: The Guardian)

Now, the motorsport community faces another devastating loss with the untimely passing of 18-year-old Dilano Van’t Hoff. The FIA is under major scrutiny for permitting green flags in conditions as treacherous as those that were present at Spa today. In 2021, similar conditions at the F1 Belgian GP warranted a couple of laps under a Safety Car after a lengthy red flag to finish the race; the same has not been applied at FRECA.

Perhaps, with some consistency and consideration for the drivers who put their lives on the line, the FIA, by red-flagging the race, could have prevented the tragic passing of the young superstar. This should be the final instance for the FIA to wake up and take more responsibility about permitting competitive racing in such perilous conditions.

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