How exactly the Dutch air force helped Max Verstappen a little during GP in U.S.

COTA

The United States Grand Prix began Sunday for Max Verstappen with a very special tribute. No American jets this time during The Star-Spangled Banner over the Circuit of the Americas, but … Dutch helicopters. While the American national anthem echoed over the grandstands, Apache and Chinook helicopters of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) swept over the circuit – complete with red-white-and-blue smoke trails. The colors of Texas, of the American flag, and of course of the Netherlands. But why?

Dutch wings over Texas

The flyover was not performed by the U.S. military this year because military air shows have been temporarily suspended during the U.S. government shutdown. All non-essential government services are completely down because politicians cannot agree on the government budget. And then the Netherlands came into the picture. In fact, the Royal Netherlands Air Force has been training in Texas since 1996. From Robert Gray Army Airfield, about 100 kilometers from the circuit, Dutch crews fly AH-64 Apaches and CH-47 Chinooks, among others.

That base serves as home to 302 Squadron, part of the 166th Aviation Brigade of Division West of the U.S. Army. The Dutch crews train there four or five times a year, often together with American Air Assault units. And so this weekend they got to perform a very different mission: opening the Formula 1 GP.

A flying start for Verstappen

And maybe the Dutch fly-over helped a little, because Max Verstappen had a perfect weekend. The three-time world champion won not only the sprint race, but also the Grand Prix, his fourth victory on American soil. In doing so, he again snatched points from World Championship leader Oscar Piastri and his teammate Lando Norris.

Comeback in full swing

Verstappen drove from start to finish in the lead at the Circuit of the Americas and appears to be making what the foreign press is already calling “the comeback of the century.” His gap to Piastri has now shrunk to 40 points with five race weekends to go. Norris finished second, Leclerc third, while Piastri had to settle for spot five. With this victory, Max puts himself firmly back in the title race. The Formula One caravan travels on to Mexico City next week.

Also read: Verstappen’s car fleet: these are the cars Max drives privately