He’s ugly, the world champion. Max Verstappen (24) started the new Formula 1 season unsuccessfully. At the GP in Bahrain, he reports problems with the steering wheel early on. Later, the Dutchman lifted the lid after he was increasingly instructed by his team not to drive too aggressively. He chides his people over the radio and criticizes their strategy: “This is the second time that I’ve taken it easy on the out-lap – and for the second time I’m behind. I’ll never do that again!”
He will only drive according to his feelings, the Dutchman snaps into the pits. But even that is premature. On lap 54, Verstappen slowed down, made it back to the box but had to retire. No points – and that despite the fact that the world champion has long successfully dueled with Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz for second place (here go to the race report).
Too little petrol in the tank
The cops have problems with the fuel pump, it was said for the time being. Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Pérez (32) did not make it to the finish either. “It was the same for both cars, with the petrol, we don’t know exactly what yet,” explains Red Bull Motorsport Director Helmut Marko afterwards.
As Blick already suspected, the Red Bulls didn’t have enough fuel in the tank – which the team would of course never admit.
For Verstappen, this is unacceptable. “It shouldn’t happen at this level,” he said to “ORF” after the failure. And further: «Lost so many points. This is very bad. You have to analyze what went wrong.”
Laughing third this Sunday evening is Lewis Hamilton (37). After the Red Bulls were out, the Brit still made it onto the podium (for the 187th time) – third behind the Ferraris Carlos Sainz (27) and winner Charles Leclerc (24). Hamilton can’t resist taking a dig at the Verstappen team. “We did a better job,” analyzes the seven-time champion boldly. (RB/mam)