Max Verstappen had a troublesome outing on the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday within the third Components One race of the 2024 season.
After successful the primary two races and sitting on the pole for the Melbourne event, Verstappen was in bother proper from the soar. He had Carlos Sainz on his tail and couldn’t maintain him off as he slipped in a single flip. Then, his Crimson Bull Racing automobile began to smoke.
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Crimson Bull driver Max Verstappen, proper, talks with a teammate after retiring from the Australian Components One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Sunday, March 24, 2024. (AP Photograph/Scott Barbour)
Verstappen started to lose energy and was compelled to retire from the race in one of many surprising occasions of the season. As he got here into the pits, the again of his automobile exploded and spewed black smoke briefly. His pit crew got here in to extinguish the flames and his day was over shortly.
“My right rear brake basically stuck on from when the lights went off,” he mentioned afterward. “The temperatures (in the car) just kept on increasing until the point that it caught fire. They (mechanics) could see what was going on, but they don’t know what caused it.
“We had loads of good races in a row, I knew that the day would come when you find yourself having a retirement and, sadly, that day was at present.”
F1 ACADEMY DRIVER’S VICTORY STRIPPED AFTER PENALTY FOR BIZARRE REASON
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen gets out of his car as it is enveloped in smoke at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, in Melbourne, Sunday, March 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Barbour,Pool)
Verstappen won 19 races last season on his way to his third consecutive world championship.
“It’s a disgrace because the automobile felt actually good within the laps to the grid, however you can’t management these points and these items occur,” he added. “After all, I’m disenchanted we didn’t end the race as we had a superb shot at successful and the automobile has been enhancing all through the weekend.”
Sainz – 16 days faraway from appendix surgical procedure – held on for the win. His Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc completed in second and McLaren’s Lando Norris took residence third.
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Flames are coming from the back of Max Verstappen’s car as he returns to pit lane to retire from the Australian Formula One Grand Prix, Sunday, March 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Barbour,Pool)
Lewis Hamilton also had engine trouble, which saw him finish in 18th. Hamilton’s teammate George Russell crashed and nearly turned his vehicle over on the last lap trying to get around Fernando Alonso.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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