Dutch driver Max Verstappen, 28 years old, from Red Bull Racing, is having a catastrophic start to the Formula 1 World Championship season.
He retired today at the Chinese Grand Prix, on the Shanghai circuit, and at the end unleashed a new tirade against the organizers of the Grand Prix, once again showing dissatisfaction with the new technical regulations that came into effect this year.
The Dutchman retired on lap 47 while holding 6th place in the Asian Grand Prix. Max says that the new cars are not at all right, considering that they are dependent on the electrical component of the power unit, which is reflected in both overtaking on the track and the cars' resistance throughout a Grand Prix.
"It's terrible. If someone enjoys this, it means they don't understand what racing is. It's not fun at all. It's like playing Mario Kart, not real races. You accelerate past someone, then your battery runs out on the next straight line and they accelerate past you. For me, it's a joke. Only Kimi or George win. There's no real fight. They are far ahead. Sometimes, Ferrari has good starts and pressures them at the beginning, but after a few laps, everything settles down.
As I said, this has nothing to do with racing. I would say the same even if I were winning because I care about the competitive product. It's not about my position's frustration, because now I fight even more. But for me, it's a total joke. We are talking to management about it, but we have to be careful about what and how we say. They understand what we, the drivers, want to say. I think I speak on behalf of the majority of drivers. Some would say it's great because they win. Why give up an advantage when you have it? You never know when you'll have a good car again.
But if you talk to most drivers, we don't like it. I don't think true Formula 1 fans want that," Verstappen ranted, quoted by sportal.bg.
Kimi Antonelli (19 years old, Mercedes) won the Chinese Grand Prix, his first victory in Formula 1.
With the points from today's victory, Antonelli reaches a total of 47. Russell has 51, Leclerc 34, Hamilton 33, in the overall standings.
D.A.