Shortly after the race began, smoke started to come out of Verstappen’s car, and Carlos Sainz quickly passed him.
Christian Horner, the head of Red Bull Racing, addressed the situation following Max Verstappen’s apparent heated conversation with a mechanic at the Australian Grand Prix.
This incident occurred after Verstappen, who was leading the race and close to achieving his 10th consecutive Formula 1 victory, had to retire early due to a mechanical problem.
Soon after the race started, Verstappen’s car started emitting smoke, and Carlos Sainz swiftly overtook him.
Things got worse when his brakes caught fire, forcing him to stop and leave the race.
After taking off his helmet, Verstappen seemed to have a serious conversation with a mechanic, during which he seemed to say the word “stupid.”
Despite this, Horner defended Verstappen, stating, “Naturally, a driver will be frustrated when they have to leave the race.”
He praised Verstappen’s attitude towards the team and mechanics, highlighting his kindness despite the frustration.
Horner talked about the disappointment shared by the team and emphasized the importance of learning from this incident.
He also mentioned the team’s impressive track record of avoiding mechanical failures in races over the past two years.
Verstappen himself provided insight into the problems he encountered during the race.
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He revealed that one of the wheels’ brakes malfunctioned right from the start, comparing it to “driving with the handbrake on.”
He recounted a peculiar moment when his car was on fire, and there was a discussion about making a pitstop, to which he questioned the reasoning, saying, “Why are we making a pit stop while the car is on fire?”