Max Verstappen expressed his anger and frustration after experiencing a brake failure during the Australian GP, using strong language to criticize the way his team handled the situation. The incident proved to be a nightmare for the current championship leader, as it not only ended his fight for victory, but also prevented him from equaling his previous world record of ten consecutive wins.
Verstappen was visibly furious after the incident, stating that the data clearly showed that the right rear brake was stuck. Despite this, the team chose not to take any action, resulting in the unfortunate incident. The stuck brake also affected his performance on track, making the car difficult to control in the corners.
In an attempt to fix the issue, Red Bull considered making a pit stop to change the tires. This decision led Verstappen to make his irritated comment, calling it “Stupid as f***”. However, he clarified that his frustration was only directed at the idea of making a stop with the brake on fire and did not reflect any personal animosity towards the team.
Verstappen further explained to the press that the right rear brake was stuck, giving the sensation that the handbrake was engaged. He could feel this issue from the early stages of the race. His outburst in the garage was specifically about the suggestion of a pit stop while the car was on fire.
The disappointment of the current world champion was evident, leading him to leave the Red Bull garage visibly shaken. Track marshals quickly intervened to extinguish the fire on the RB20’s right rear brake. Unfortunately, Verstappen’s retirement from the race resulted in zero points for him and significantly impacted his chances in the world championship.
In addition, Verstappen’s tires also caught fire due to brake failure, highlighting Red Bull’s negligence in dealing with the issue earlier. The retirement of the pole position allowed Carlos Sainz, from Ferrari, to clinch victory in the Australian GP, with Charles Leclerc finishing in second place. Sergio Perez, on the other hand, managed a modest fifth place at Albert Park.
The entire Australian GP was full of drama and proved to be an intriguing spectacle for fans worldwide. Verstappen’s early retirement was followed by another driver’s engine failure, and even Mercedes had a disappointing weekend, with one of their drivers suffering an accident on the last lap of the race.
