Verstappen’s winning streak, which has been unbroken since Singapore 2023 (a race won by Carlos Sainz), came to an end during the 2024 F1 race in Australia. In the early stages of the race, Verstappen struggled to create distance between himself and Sainz. However, he lost control of his car at Turn 3, allowing Sainz to pass him at Turn 9. From that point on, Verstappen’s RB20 began to deteriorate, with smoke billowing from the rear of the vehicle. Eventually, Verstappen was forced to retire from the race and return to the team garage, with flames emerging from the rear right brake duct.
Verstappen spoke to Sky Sports F1 about his retirement, explaining that the data showed a problem with the right-rear brake. He described the experience of driving with a stuck brake as similar to driving with the handbrake engaged. Verstappen acknowledged that while it was not ideal, mechanical issues are an unfortunate reality of the sport. He emphasized the importance of understanding why the problem occurred.
During Red Bull’s post-race briefing, Verstappen expressed his disappointment at not being able to finish the race. He highlighted the potential for such issues to arise and expressed confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back in future races. Verstappen praised the performance of the car leading up to the race and remained optimistic for the upcoming Suzuka race.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner discussed the brake issue that led to Verstappen’s retirement. He confirmed that the problem appeared to have been present since the start of the race, causing Verstappen to experience difficulties and resulting in a fire. Horner stated that the team would investigate the damage and determine the cause of the issue.
Despite his retirement, Verstappen still holds the lead in the World Championship standings after three races. Horner acknowledged the frustration felt by Verstappen and the entire team but emphasized the importance of learning from the experience. He commended Verstappen’s graciousness and highlighted the valuable lessons that can be taken away from the situation.
The second Red Bull car did not fare any better, as Sergio Perez, who started in sixth place due to a penalty, had a disappointing race, finishing in fifth. He was unable to make progress and was not able to catch up to the McLarens and leading Ferraris.
“We simply did not have the speed, unfortunately,” expressed the Mexican driver. “It seemed like we struggled right from the start. Ferrari and McLaren were clearly ahead of us.
“We couldn’t find the right balance. The track conditions were unique and we couldn’t find the optimal grip level throughout the weekend.
“As a team, we lacked speed throughout the entire weekend,” added Perez. “We were already struggling on Friday and couldn’t figure out how to manage the tires. We need to analyze and improve.
“Even on a circuit like this, similar to Vegas, Ferrari was stronger than us and we couldn’t preserve our front tires,” he pointed out.
When asked if Ferrari would have won regardless of his teammate’s retirement, Perez responded confidently, “Absolutely yes.”
However, Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, shed some light on Perez’s difficulties at Albert Park. He revealed, “He [Perez] might not be aware of it, but he sustained some damage and lost significant downforce from the car’s floor when he overtook Fernando.
“Once that happens, tire degradation worsens. We struggled towards the end of the stints, which is unusual for our cars. We need to understand why.
“I must congratulate Carlos Sainz today after his surgery. He and his Ferrari team put on a fantastic performance,” concluded Horner.
Despite a challenging weekend in Australia, Red Bull still holds the lead in the 2024 F1 Constructors’ Championship. However, Ferrari is now only four points behind the reigning champions in second place after their one-two finish in Melbourne.