'It's just disappointing' - Verstappen on dropped points in Bahrain Grand Prix

 • The Red Bulls looked strong all weekend, even in testing earlier in March. • Max Verstappen was challenging Charles Leclerc for the win, with Sergio Perez for third or fourth. • Both cars suffered engine problems in the last laps of the race and neither scored any points.

Max Verstappen admitted he was left crushed by a Sunday's brutal late retirement in the season-opening Grand Prix that saw Red Bull depart Bahrain without any points.

The Dutchman looked to be heading for at least a second-place finish before his RB18 suffered a power loss with just a few laps remaining, causing him to trundle back to the garage.

His teammate Sergio Perez suffered a similar engine issue on the very last lap of the race as Red Bull was left empty-handed.

"The big problem was what happened afterward, which looked like there was no fuel coming to the engine, and basically everything just turned off, and I rolled back into the pit lane," Verstappen said according to Motorsport.com.

"It's not what you want, especially after having really positive test days and also a positive weekend. With the little issues we had, to be in second place would have been a very good result – 18 points, probably, with Checo fourth.

"But to retire with both cars at the end of the race is very disappointing."

Verstappen spent the entire race battling leader Charles Leclerc and said he decided not to be overly aggressive in his attempts to pass. He would have been "happy" to settle for P2 if a solid opportunity had not presented itself.

As it turned out, he walked away with nothing.

"It's just disappointing. You always say to yourself and the team, 'we have to score points'. It doesn't matter if it's first or second in the first race," he added.

"You could see at Turn 1