Coronation delayed for Max Verstappen

Never in the race for victory due to a big blunder by Red Bull in qualifying, the Flying Dutchman missed a first shot at the title in Singapore, but will have the opportunity to make up for it in Japan, on the lands of Honda, this weekend. In a season that had so far gone without a hitch, Max Verstappen returned to his bad days after experiencing more frustration in one weekend than in his entire year.

Published on 03/10/2022 à 14:38

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The mask of bad days for Max Verstappen after a failed performance © Red Bull

When setting down his orange suitcases in Singapore, at the southern tip of the Malaysian peninsula, Max Verstappen was hoping to leave the place five days later with a good hangover, but certainly not this one. At the house of Red Bull, Sunday evening, the t-shirts bearing the image of the Dutchman remained in the dressing rooms and the champagne chilled for the celebration of the second world champion title of the darling child will remain in the cooler at least one more week. As for the Batavian's headache, it will require a little more than an aspirin and a good night's sleep to be completely dissipated, he who has a stubborn grudge and an absolute detestation of incompetence.

The reason for his wrath? A grotesque and unusual error on the part of his Red Bull team. To understand what happened, it is necessary to return to the nocturnal and suffocating tension of Q3 last Saturday. On a wet track, but which had dried to around 80%, after passing through Q1 and Q2, the ten drivers qualified for the final fight chained loops in the last twelve minutes. Improving on his penultimate flying lap, Max Verstappen, guided by his team, however decided