Max Verstappen had an unforgettable experience during the 2024 Australian GP. He was leading to secure the win in the race, but his hopes were dashed when his right rear brake caught fire, resulting in a quick end to his race. Shortly after this incident, a video emerged on social media showing fans applauding and celebrating the retirement of the driver.
Prior to arriving at Albert Park, Verstappen was on an impressive streak of 43 consecutive races. Unfortunately, this streak came to an end in Australia, just like his previous retirement on the same continent in 2022. The lack of different winners in Formula 1 may have contributed to the fans’ celebration of Verstappen’s DNF.
As Verstappen made his way back to the pits, the crowd erupted in joy. The retirement of the reigning champion added an element of excitement to the race, and the fans ended up being treated to an exciting victory from another driver. After enduring two challenging weeks, this win was a welcome success for the new champion.
Verstappen was on track to secure another win and extend his impressive streak of 10 consecutive victories. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for the Dutchman in Melbourne, and he had to settle for a Did Not Finish (DNF) result.
When asked about the issue that caused his retirement, Verstappen explained that the right rear brake on his RB20 got stuck and started grinding against the disc as soon as the race began. This hindered his performance and caused the rear brakes to overheat, resulting in a fire in the following laps.
Despite this setback, Verstappen acknowledged that mechanical failures are part of the sport and that no one is immune to such problems. Looking ahead, the next race on the F1 calendar is the renowned Japanese Grand Prix, where Verstappen emerged victorious last year.
