Disappointed, Verstappen is “not here to be second”

Among the great performances of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen figure in good position. Starting 15th, victim of his mechanics and a capricious gearbox in qualifying, he began a quiet climb through the streets of Jeddah to place himself behind his teammate. Red Bull offered a second double in two rounds, this time led by Sergio Pérez. A perfect accounting situation for the Austrian team, just like for the reigning Dutch champion who was ahead of his teammate by one point, thanks to three sectors lit in purple on the last lap of the race. But it's a Disturbed Verstappen coming out of the seat of his RB19... " Of course, I was able to move up to second place which is good, and everyone in the team is happy overall but, personally, I'm not. I'm not here to be second », asserts the most serious contender for his succession at the top of the Drivers' championship.

The Dutchman bitterly points out the problems encountered on his car, even if these alerts have not resulted in a withdrawal from Red Bull for the moment. But this is not the first time Verstappen has complained: “ My first weekend wasn't great, because of a big difference between testing and racing, and other things happening in the background, and it was the same chose, observes the pilot. After three positive practice sessions, I have a problem in qualifying. »

« The engineers make sure you arrive in good shape, he continues, they make sure everything is on point, and you have to make a comeback – which I like to do, I don't mind – but when you're fighting for a championship and it's between the two cars, you need to make sure both cars are reliable », underlines the double title holder. With his teammate, nothing to report. Author of the pole on an urban track, a configuration which definitely suits him very well, the Mexican did not have to be wary of his car which pranced in the lead without being once worried.

The picture that the driver paints of his weekend in Dejddah is therefore not the most colorful, admitting himself that he could not have put the RB19 No. 1 higher than in second position. Separated from Pérez by five seconds, it was not possible for him to swallow in 10 laps, for fear of seeing his car fail: “ I tried to close the gap, but I ended up feeling these vibrations on the transmission, at the rear. The team didn't notice anything unusual, but I strongly believe that something was going on with the car's balance as soon as the vibrations started. »

A minor problem for the moment, as Red Bull dominates the rest of the grid head and shoulders. But the little wind tunnel time granted to the Austrian team could smooth out the gaps over the course of the season, and if Verstappen were to retire due to a mechanical problem with the gearbox, the engineers at Milton Keynes will hear about it.

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