Verstappen charged with attempted murder

Dutchman Verstappen was arrested last week in Roermond (southern Netherlands) after being charged with assaulting his 24-year-old ex-girlfriend. Now the 39-year-old has been charged with attempted murder by the region's District Attorney.

According to reports in Dutch media Verstappen, who has a history of assault, surrendered to police after beating his girlfriend and fleeing the scene of the crime.

In 2008, Verstappen was fined and sentenced to three months in prison after an assault case involving his ex-wife but was not imprisoned and served a suspended sentence. In 2000, he was also convicted of assault after fracturing the skull of a man during an incident at a karting track.

Verstappen made his F1 debut at the 1994 Brazilian Grand Prix and dove his final grand prix in Japan in 2003. He made 106 starts and drove for: Benetton, Simtek, Footwork, Tyrrell, Stewart, Arrows and Minardi.