‘Frustrating, unacceptable’ - Red Bull’s Max Verstappen fumes after second DNF of the season at Australian Grand Prix

Defending Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen insists he does not want to think about the world title fight after suffering his second retirement of the season at the Australian Grand Prix. The Dutchman endured more problems at Albert Park, having complained over team radio that he could smell some «weird fluid» before immediately pulling his car to the side of the road on lap 39. Ad/> His retirement meant Charles Leclerc ran out a comfortable winner by over 20 seconds in Melbourne after a dominant performance from start to finish.

Australian Grand PrixWilliams’ Albon disqualified from qualifying over fuel irregularity20 HOURS AGO Speaking after the race, Verstappen was left to rue what could have been for himself and Red Bull, despite admitting that he was no match for Leclerc prior to his disappointing DNF. “We’re already miles behind,” he said. “I don’t even want to think about the championship fight at the moment; I think it’s more important to finish races.

“Today in general was just a bad day again. Not really having the pace, I was just managing my tyres to try and just bring it to the end, because it looked like quite an easy P2 anyway and I knew I could not fight Charles. There was no point trying to put pressure on him.

/> “We didn’t even finish the race, so it’s pretty frustrating and unacceptable. «These kinds of things, if you want to fight for the title, cannot happen.” Red Bull team boss Christian Horner also reacted to Verstappen’s retirement, saying he felt for his driver after another disappointing result. »It’s totally understandable, his frustration," he told Sky Sports.

«That was a really disappointing result not to finish the race. »We don’t know what the issue is yet. I don’t actually think