Max Verstappen admits beating Charles Leclerc 'a big task' after 'terrible' Australian GP

Max Verstappen has ominously conceded that beating Charles Leclerc to the Formula One Drivers' World Championship could be too tough a task this season. The Red Bull star suffered a 'terrible' Australian Grand Prix performance and retired for the second time in 2022.

Reigning world champion Verstappen appeared to have overcome the fuel pump issue that saw him retire at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix when he won two weeks later in Saudi Arabia. However, the Dutchman was forced to stop his car with 20 laps remaining in Australia, claiming he could smell a "weird fluid" before flames emerged from his vehicle.

Ferrari driver Leclerc raced away to win his second Grand Prix of the year. Verstappen believes it is going to be a 'big ask' for Red Bull to be faster than the Monacan because he feels he encounters too many problems.

"We are already so far down in the championship that from now onwards basically you first need to be faster than them (Ferrari), which we're not, and zero problems with the car which we also don't have," Verstappen said.

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"So it's going to be a big task. It was just a terrible race, just no pace. I couldn't push because the tyres were just getting destroyed."

Verstappen's Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez finished behind Leclerc, picking up 18 points for the team. Perez was heard on the team radio making sure he would not experience the same issues as Verstappen with his own car.

Verstappen has also been unhappy with his tyres this season and said he struggles to find any speed. He damningly called his race 'unacceptable' in an angry post-race interview.

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