Toto Wolff fears a driver could DIE if ‘total idiots’ continue to launch flares on to the track

Toto Wolff fears a driver could die if ‘idiots’ throw flares on to the track during the Dutch Grand Prix in a repeat of the disturbance that delayed qualifying on Saturday.

Race organisers will conduct a mass search of the 110,000 crowd to try to beat the danger after two orange grenades were slung from the stands, leading to one arrest, as Max Verstappen delighted the partisans by taking an impressive pole position in sunny Zandvoort.

The action was red flagged for six minutes while the first of the flares – a staple of Verstappen’s huge Orange Army in recent years – was removed. Thankfully, only Williams’ Alex Albon was on track at that early stage of Q2. 

The second flare later rolled off the circuit during Q3 and to safety without prompting a further suspension.

But a concerned Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, said: ‘It’s a shame there are a few total idiots out there who don’t consider what a flare can do to a driver. If such a can hits you, it can have lethal consequences. The halo wouldn’t help you in that.

‘We looked at the camera angles and Lewis was going through the pit lane. I don’t know if somebody threw it at him, but it happened before he actually was at that point.

‘I hope the organisers have a grip on it.’

 Qualifying at the Dutch Grand Prix was disturbed and delayed as a result of flare-throwing

Verstappen said: ‘Throwing flares is stupid. Don’t do it.’

Hamilton, who missed out on pole by three-tenths and will start fourth, said he had not seen the smoke. He appears to be on a charm offensive with the Dutch crowd after his joust with Verstappen for the title last year aroused strong animosities.

Both he and Verstappen have security guards at their sides this weekend. But, other than for the flare throwing, the atmosphere has been lively rather than hostile, unlike in Austria in July, when there were reports of racist abuse.

The Mail on Sunday understands the subject of flares was discussed at the drivers’ briefing on Friday night. A number of drivers were keen to avoid the smoking fog of orange that impaired visibility during the early stages of last year’s race.

The authorities here have put up signs declaring that flares are not allowed in the grounds and are searching bags in a bid to uphold the rule. However, they accept that it is impossible to ensure that no canisters slip through and will today urge fans who have smuggled in flares to let them off prior to the formation lap and certainly before the 72-lap race itself starts a couple or so minutes after 3pm local time.

Orange flares have been used by some Dutch fans to show their support of Max Verstappen

Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate George Russell, who qualified sixth, said: ‘If you run over it, and it is sharp, it can give you a puncture. It is one of those things where it could be harmless or cause a lot of damage.

‘It is quite a spectacle to see it in the stands, but I can’t imagine if you are standing there it is that pleasant.

‘It would be a shame to see them stopped for good because it has become part of the show, but I would like to see people show common sense rather than throwing flares on to the track.’

As for qualifying itself, Verstappen overcame the handicap of sitting out nearly all of first practice with a broken gearbox to dominate when the clock counted. He ended up 0.021 of a second ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, with Carlos Sainz, in the other red car, third best.

The reigning world champion addressed fans and said: ‘Throwing flares is stupid. Don’t do it’

‘Unbelievable after Friday,’ said Verstappen, the world champion who has turned his defence into a breeze, to lead by 93 points with eight rounds, including today’s race, remaining.

If he managed to win from 14th in Spa a week ago, a procession is in prospect today.

As for Hamilton, he was flying when Red Bull’s No 2 Sergio Perez’s spin caused a yellow flag at the death, so the Briton’s slim chance of claiming pole was scuppered. Still, Mercedes were much more competitive over one lap than in Spa.

But Hamilton understandably offers this health warning: ‘The car has a mood swing and you don’t know what side of bed it is going to get out of.’