A sheriff is forced to put out a fire as Red Bull Dutch driver Max Verstappen (L) looks at his car during the 2022 Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne on the 10th. April 2022. (Photo by William WEST/AFP)
A frustrated world champion Max Verstappen says it is “unacceptable” for him to be unable to complete the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday after his Red Bull collapsed as he looked like fate Monday.
This is the second time in the opening three races of the season that the Dutchman has not traveled the distance, after retiring in Bahrain.
“We are being far behind (Ferrari). We needed to finish the race,” Verstappen said after surging past lap 39 of 58 at Albert Park when he finished second to winner Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari.
“I smell weird liquid,” Verstappen reported over team radio before stopping the car, jumping out and grabbing a fire extinguisher to help police put out the fire.
“Today is a bad day, I’m managing the tyres, I can’t play against Charles,” he added.
“It was an easy P2 but we didn’t even finish the race – it was annoying and unacceptable. Things like this, if you want to fight for the title, are not acceptable.”
Heartbreaking for Max Verstappen in Australia
A missed podium opportunity for the Dutchman after an impressive performance ended early with a car breakdown#AusGP # F1 pic.twitter.com/DXeOAe1r4X
– Formula 1 (@ F1) April 10, 2022
Verstappen wasn’t happy all weekend, complaining after qualifying for the second round about his car’s balance.
He said: “I have never felt comfortable running a lap except for long runs.
The 24-year-old also groaned after the organizers cut the number of areas of the drag reduction system (DRS) from three to four for safety reasons.
DRS allows the driver ahead within one second to open the flap mounted on the rear wing to increase top speed and assist with overtaking.
Red Bull is considered to be faster on a straight line than Ferrari, so many DRS areas will favor them.
Team principal Christian Horner said he could understand Verstappen’s displeasure.
“That’s completely understandable, his frustration,” he told reporters. “It was a really disappointing result not being able to finish the race.
“We still don’t know what the problem is, I don’t think it’s really engine related, I think it could be a fuel issue, but we need to get the car back, we need to look into it exactly. what happened. . ”
It wasn’t all bleak and bleak for Red Bull, with Sergio Perez coming in second. However, he was 20 seconds behind Leclerc.
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