The start of the season is not going as Max Verstappen expected it. The Dutchman, defending champion of the title in this new edition, returned to zero for the second time in his first three appearances after leaving on lap 41 of the Australian GP due to a failure in the single-seater.
“It's very disappointing that we didn't finish the race, I don't know what happened to the car yet; we'll take it back to the factory and everything will be analyzed there,” acknowledged the 24-year-old, minutes after retiring from the track visibly annoyed.
This, in addition to the episode he starred in the opening race in Bahrain, where he could not end up crossing the finish line due to engine problems, put Red Bull on alert, a team with which he recently signed a contract renewal until 2028.
“We are already miles away (compared to Leclerc), so I don't even want to think about the championship fight right now. I think it's more important to finish races, because today was generally just another bad day, again,” Mad Max launched from the paddock.
“I knew before the race that there was a possibility that we wouldn't finish, but I tried not to think about it. These things are not what you want to happen when you want to fight for the title; and the difference (with the Monegasque) is already quite big,” lamented Mad Max, who by winning in Jeddah (Arabian GP) brought his number of victories in F1 to 21.
“I knew I couldn't fight Charles, so there was no point in trying to push him. But we didn't even finish the race. It's quite frustrating and unacceptable,” said the Dutch driver in what could also have been a clear warning for his team.
This new “frustration” for Verstappen comes after statements made by Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko, who in dialogue with Formel 1 spoke of the clause of termination that can activate their star driver in the new renewal contract they recently signed.
“If Red Bull experiences a kind of 'accident', as in 2014 when we had absolutely no chance against Mercedes because of the engine, then there is, of course, an exit clause”, acknowledged the Austrian director.
While it is still too early to make hasty decisions, the Red Bull mechanics will have to get down to work trying to improve the car and reduce another possible abandonment to the least extent. “I want to, but we have to solve certain things so that it doesn't happen again,” said Verstappen, who so far only has 25 points and is sixth in the 56-unit standings of the leader, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari).
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