Max ‘should never have been in that position’
Max Verstappen Tuscan GP dnf
Max Verstappen says he would never have been in that position at Mugello to be caught up in another’s crash were it not for his Honda engine.
The Dutchman was left frustrated as once again engine issues cost him a possible podium at a grand prix.
On his way to the Tuscan Grand Prix grid on Sunday, Verstappen reported an issue with his engine on his out-lap.
His mechanics were quickly on hand to resolve what the team thought was a software issue.
That, though, was just the beginning of Verstappen’s problem.
Although he got a great start, challenging Lewis Hamilton for second, he suddenly lost power and fell back through the field.
“I’ve got no power!” he yelled moments before he was caught out in Pierre Gasly’s crash with Romain Grosjean and Kimi Raikkonen, given a serious whack by the Alfa Romeo driver.
“This is what you get with this f***ing s**tshow! Honestly!” screamed the Dutchman.
Verstappen got a slow start and radioed to the team that he had no power
He then got caught up in a midfield tangle before ploughing into the gravel at Turn 2 😮#TuscanGP 🇮🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/v89iNL2S2D
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 13, 2020
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The 22-year-old retired from the race, his third DNF of this season.
“It was not idling and I had an anti-stall on the formation lap as well, just idling,” he said.
“I had a good launch and went around Lewis. I had a better launch that Valtteri, but once I went flat out, the engine had a similar problem to what we had at Monza.
“We had no power there and you get into a situation where you are in the middle of the pack. Then it’s easy to get involved in the middle of a crash. I don’t even know what happened.”
He added: “We should not even have been in that position. It is really frustrating that we had another retirement.
“But it is what it is. I am really not happy at the moment, but I can’t change it.”
Sunday’s result has left the title hopeful sitting on 110 points, 80 behind championship leader and Tuscan GP race winner Lewis Hamilton.
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