Another title blow for Verstappen after Aus GP DNF

Max Verstappen’s defence of the World Championship suffered another big setback as he was forced to retire on lap 39 in Australia.

Running second throughout the race at Albert Park, the same position he had started on the grid, the Dutchman stopped with a sudden failure in his Red Bull.

Pulling over, Verstappen said over the team radio he could “smell weird fluid” and after jumping out of the car, quickly urged marshals to extinguish a small fire.

It was the second retirement in three races for the World Champion, who also exited late in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix won by Charles Leclerc.

Two DNFs in three races so far this season for Max Verstappen. Losing precious ground in his title defence.#AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/y5dHn3F3s6

— PlanetF1 (@Planet_F1) April 10, 2022

With the Ferrari driver comfortably leading for the entirety of the race in Melbourne from pole position and going on to win, it left Verstappen with a 46-point deficit to the Monegasque in the Drivers’ standings after only three grands prix.

Left second on the road, Sergio Perez, in the other Red Bull, asked what the problem had been for Verstappen.

“Don’t worry about Mick, it’s not relevant for our car,” said Hugh Bird, the Mexican’s race engineer.

More to follow…