10 times F1 drivers have suffered heartbreak at their home Grand Prix

Max Verstappen suffered a spectacular exit from the Dutch Grand Prix last weekend after crashing out at high-speed on the final corner.

The Dutchman walked away unharmed after his off, but it was a disappointing final home race for the four-time World Champion – who has won at the venue on three previous occasions – and the Orange Army at Zandvoort.

Verstappen is certainly not the first driver to suffer home heartache though, and F1.com has looked at 10 other instances where it's all gone wrong on home soil...

Oscar Piastri – 2026 Australian Grand Prix

Having just missed out on the Drivers' Championship to McLaren team mate Lando Norris at the final round the year before, Oscar Piastri was intent on starting his 2026 campaign with a win.

The season-opener in Australia was also Piastri's home event, providing further motivation if any were needed, but the new-for-2026 regulations saw the reigning teams' champions start on the back foot.

Piastri had only been able to qualify P5, albeit ahead of reigning champion Norris, but any hopes of giving the home crowd something to cheer about were dashed as he failed to even make the start.

On his reconnaissance lap to the grid, Piastri ran over the exit kerb at Turn 4, lost control and slammed into the wall, destroying his car as the Australian fans watched in disbelief.

It was to get even worse for Piastri at the next race in China, where car problems prevented both himself and Norris from making the start. It took until the third round in Japan for the Australian to actually compete in a Grand Prix.

Charles Leclerc – 2021 Monaco Grand Prix

Despite growing up with the Monaco Grand Prix quite literally on his doorstep, Charles Leclerc's luck in Monte Carlo always seemed to find a way of deserting him.

The Monegasque driver certainly doesn't lack speed around the streets of the Principality, having taken pole position three times, his first in 2021 yielding probably his biggest heartbreak.

Having set the fastest time in Qualifying after the first set of flying laps, Leclerc crashed into the barrier on the exit of the Swimming Pool section with his second effort, bringing out the red flag and inadvertently ensuring he kept pole position.

But Ferrari's task of rebuilding the damaged car overnight proved too much, and a gearbox problem meant Leclerc was unable to make the start, leaving him a distraught bystander.

More heartache followed in 2022, as after starting on pole position again, a sub-optimal strategy by Ferrari in mixed conditions meant he finished a dejected fourth. Leclerc was finally able to claim his first victory on home soil in 2024.

Sebastian Vettel – 2018 German Grand Prix

Entering the 2018 German Grand Prix and the halfway point of the season, Sebastian Vettel sat eight points clear of Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton as the pair battled for that year's title.

A hydraulics issue in Qualifying left Hamilton only P14 on the grid, while Vettel started from pole and pulled clear for much of the race, with another victory looking likely in front of his home fans.

But rain began to fall heading into the final stages and entering the stadium section, Vettel slid off the road and into the barrier, ending the Ferrari driver's race amidst an angry outburst over the radio as he punched his steering wheel.

The incident derailed Vettel's title aspirations, as Hamilton took an unlikely win along with a championship lead he would never relinquish – eventually claiming his fifth title two races before the end of the season.

Daniel Ricciardo – 2014 Australian Grand Prix

Having split the Mercedes cars of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in a wet Qualifying, hopes were high from the Australian crowd that Daniel Ricciardo could challenge for victory in his first race for Red Bull.

With Hamilton retiring due to an engine issue it was left to Rosberg to take a commanding victory, while Ricciardo was able to finish second and become the first Australian driver to claim a podium at their home Grand Prix.

However, joy turned to disappointment post-race as he was disqualified after his car had exceeded the fuel mass flow limit of 100kg/hr on the opening lap of the race.

Outright success would come later in the season though, as Ricciardo registered three wins during a campaign where the dominant Mercedes cars claimed all other victories.

Felipe Massa – 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix

The 2008 season-finale in Brazil was almost the fairytale ending for Felipe Massa in his quest for a maiden drivers' title, but the Ferrari racer came up agonisingly short in the most dramatic of circumstances.

Massa entered the weekend seven points behind Lewis Hamilton in the title battle, making the Brazilian Grand Prix a must-win event for the home hero.

Having taken pole position, Massa was in command throughout and claimed victory, even after a late rain shower prompted a stop for wet tyres as some drivers gambled on sticking with the dry grooved Bridgestones.

One of those was the Toyota of Timo Glock, who having jumped ahead of Hamilton as the Briton pitted for wets, was powerless to stop the McLaren driver from overtaking out of the last corner for the final time to claim P5 and his maiden title by one point.

Massa, who had been told to wait for the final result over the radio by engineer Rob Smedley, was visibly emotional on the podium after.

Rubens Barrichello – 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix

In 19 total attempts at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Rubens Barrichello failed to finish his home race 11 times, but it was his retirement from the 2003 edition that likely hurt the most for 'Rubinho'.

The Ferrari driver had taken pole position in Sao Paulo for the first time, but wet weather on Sunday threatened to derail his and the local fans' hopes for a Brazilian victor.

Despite losing the lead to David Coulthard once racing resumed after a Safety Car start, Barrichello remained in amongst the leading contenders and moved back into the lead on Lap 45.

But just a lap later, Barrichello's car came to a halt and out of fuel after a computer error meant the team were unaware of his perilous situation.

Even more galling, the race was red-flagged just eight laps later following a heavy crash for Fernando Alonso through the final corner, meaning Jordan's Giancarlo Fisichella became the unlikely winner.

While Barrichello would claim two more pole positions in front of his home fans (2004 for Ferrari and 2009 for Brawn GP), the best result he would achieve in front of his home fans was third.

Damon Hill – 1993 British Grand Prix

While Alain Prost would claim his fourth and final title before retiring after an illustrious career at the end of the 1993 season, team mate Damon Hill was only just beginning to write his.

Having been promoted from Williams' test driver into a full-time race seat, Hill acquitted himself well in the opening half of the season, securing five podiums from eight races.

By the time of the British Grand Prix, the home hero was ready to make the final jump to the top step and he put himself in a great position by jumping polesitter Prost off the line.

While the Frenchman battled with long-time adversary Ayrton Senna, Hill built a commanding lead at the front and looked on course for his first F1 victory.

But a blown engine just 18 laps from the end meant heartbreak for Hill and his home fans, with a puncture at the next round in Germany denying him the victory once again.

Success final came in Hungary, while Hill banished any demons from his 1993 disappointment by winning the 1994 British Grand Prix, before title success finally came in 1996.

Riccardo Patrese – 1992 Italian Grand Prix

Nigel Mansell dominated the 1992 season with nine victories en route to the drivers' title at the wheel of the Williams FW14B.

But while the Briton was able to come to terms with the car's state-of-the-art electronics, including active suspension system, team mate Ricardo Patrese struggled to adapt to the technology.

Heading to Monza for the 13th race of the season at the Italian Grand Prix, Patrese had failed to register a win, but with the title already secured, Mansell allowed his team mate into the lead.

When Mansell retired with an electrical issue, Patrese looked comfortable for the victory, but a hydraulic issue six laps from the end forced him to drop his pace and he eventually reached the chequered flag in P5, to the disappointment of the Italian fans.

There was some reprieve two races later though, as Patrese stood on the top step for the final time in his illustrious F1 career with victory in the Japanese Grand Prix.

Nelson Piquet – 1982 Brazilian Grand Prix

Having claimed the first of his three titles at the end of the previous season, Nelson Piquet hoped to find more success in front of his home fans, but the Brabham driver could only start seventh at the Rio de Janeiro circuit in 1982.

Extreme heat soon began to take its toll however, and as his rivals began to drop out, Piquet eventually found himself taking the chequered flag first to the delight of his fans.

But the heat had effected Piquet too, with the Brazilian collapsing on the podium, and things only got worse as the reigning champion was disqualified from the race.

His Brabham was found to be underweight due to water-cooled brakes that were due to be replenished after the race, with the controversial concept soon banned.

Piquet would eventually find success in front of his home fans in 1983 and 1986.

James Hunt – 1976 British Grand Prix

James Hunt and Niki Lauda's titanic battle for the 1976 title is well-known amongst motorsport fans, with several flashpoints occurring across the season, including the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch.

Lauda's Ferrari held the lead from pole into Turn 1 but contact with team mate Clay Regazzoni sent the latter into a spin, where he was collected by Hunt's McLaren as the red flags were shown.

Hunt was unable to complete a full lap back to the pits due to the damage, before his car was eventually returned to the garage in need of repairs.

At the restart and in a repaired McLaren, Hunt trailed Lauda before moving ahead of his rival just after half distance to claim victory in front of his home fans.

But two months later, and in another twist to the narrative of that year's title, Hunt was disqualified from the result after a protest by Ferrari.

The Scuderia had argued successfully that Hunt had not completed the full lap back to the pits when the red flag was shown, meaning the future 1976 champion should not have been allowed to take the restart.