Australian Grand Prix Max Verstappen has described the “really weird” issue that caused his Red Bull car to catch fire just four laps into the Australian Grand Prix, ending his winning streak.
As to the Mirror, which is despite starting on pole and looking for his tenth consecutive F1 race victory, the Dutchman’s afternoon began to crumble as soon as the Grand Prix began.
Verstappen made a mistake into Turn Eight on the second lap, and it didn’t take long for him to recognize his car had a significant problem, handing Carlos Sainz the lead.
The 26-year-old world champion’s Red Bull sustained major damage to its rear-right tyre, resulting in smoke and flames pouring from it.
Australian Grand Prix max Verstappen Retired – Short Story
Australian Grand Prix Max Verstappen, a three-time world champion, said it felt like driving “with the handbrake on” after retiring from the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday with smoke streaming from his Red Bull.
Australian Grand Prix max Verstappen was on a nine-race streak of wins after victories in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, the first two Formula One races of the 2024 season.
The damage caused a considerable loss of time, forcing Verstappen to retire from the race just five laps in.
Challenges for Max Verstappen at the Australian Grand Prix
The Dutch driver was favored to win the third race this season, following previous victories in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
But it all went wrong quickly when he was passed by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz on lap two, and his brakes locked up, ending his race.
“For sure it does not damage, that is completely (sure),” he went on to say. “I still don’t have a job for next year. Everyone is generally aware of my abilities. I race for myself, not to impress team principals. That’s the mindset and technique I have and will maintain,” Sainz insisted.
Australian Grand Prix max Verstappen: The Upset Moment
Australian Grand Prix max Verstappen was furious and dashed to the media pen to clarify the issue.
He stated, “We could see in the data that as soon as the lights turned off, the right-rear brake merely hung on, and of course, the damage continued to increase. I was driving with the handbrake applied. That’s why the car felt strange to drive in some curves; it was quite quick.
“On the laps to the grid, the car was spot on, and I was quite pleased with what we were doing, but if a brake gets stuck on, it doesn’t help. It is too early to say what went wrong, but they will look into it.”
In addition, Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time F1 World Drivers’ Champion, pulled from his Grand Prix prematurely owing to an engine issue, which a Mercedes official acknowledged as a power unit malfunction.
Conclusion
Max Verstappen experienced a difficult Australian Grand Prix, and his Red Bull car caught fire early in the race. Lewis Hamilton’s unexpected retirement due to engine failure heightened the event’s intensity.
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