Max Verstappen expresses dissatisfaction with new F1 cars following crash during Australian GP qualifying.
MELBOURNE, Australia — Max Verstappen expressed that he is “not having fun at all” while driving Formula 1’s contentious cars after he crashed out during the first qualifying session of the season.
Verstappen lost control in Q1 as he applied the brakes approaching Turn 1, resulting in him starting the opening race from the back of the grid.
The four-time world champion has voiced his concerns about the new generation of cars well before Saturday’s session, comparing them in February to Formula E, describing them as “on steroids.”
The new F1 engines have transitioned towards a nearly equal distribution between combustion and electric power, significantly emphasizing energy recovery and battery management throughout the lap.
“I’m definitely not having fun at all with these cars,” Verstappen remarked after qualifying. “I don’t know. I mean, you can form your own opinion, but I think if you look at the onboard footage, you see enough, right?”
Onboard videos have circulated this week on social media showcasing the significant speed reduction cars are experiencing as they approach Turn 9 at Albert Park, a phenomenon referred to with these new cars as “super clipping.”
Drivers are required to coast at various points on the circuit to recover energy from the batteries, which have become crucial for racing the new cars.
Even Verstappen’s qualifying spin appeared to be a consequence of the hybrid nature of the engines, with the MGU-K component transferring energy to the rear of the car to assist in the energy recovery process.
“I just pressed the pedal and the entire rear axle completely locked, which is, particularly with these Formula 1 cars, very unusual,” he stated. “I mean, I’ve never encountered that in my entire life … I have no idea where it originates from.”
Verstappen later commented: “There are numerous aspects we need to examine, I think, in general as a sport. So, what can I say?”
Verstappen’s candid and ongoing criticism may raise concerns for Formula 1 as a whole.
Often regarded as F1’s top driver by a significant margin, the Dutchman has frequently hinted at the possibility of retiring soon if he does not find enjoyment—whether due to the performance of his Red Bull team or the machinery itself—and should he ever follow through, it would be a significant critique of the new regulations.
Adding to Verstappen’s disappointment was the revelation of Mercedes’ genuine pace advantage on Saturday afternoon, with preseason favorite George Russell qualifying 0.2 seconds ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli and nearly a full second faster than Verstappen’s teammate Isak Hadjar in third.
Facing a start from the back of the grid, Verstappen was asked what he could do on Sunday.
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“To be honest, I wouldn’t even know what to change. It’s going to be a long day from now. It’s going to be a long season, that’s all I’m saying.”
Regarding Mercedes suddenly ramping up their engine performance, Verstappen stated: “It’s what I mentioned already in Bahrain, ‘let’s wait and see in Melbourne, and you will see how fast they are.’
“So, for me, that’s not a surprise.”
Despite Verstappen’s crash, he did participate in the session by leaving the pits, whereas both Lance Stroll and Carlos Sainz did not make it onto the track at all, placing him 20th out of 22 in the final classification.
Source: espn.com
