Max Verstappen’s defence of his first Formula One world championship started in dramatic circumstances as he was forced to retire in the car in the closing laps of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Verstappen ran second for the entire race and looked well placed to challenge Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc for victory at a late Safety Car restart, only to encounter car issues in the closing laps.
An angry Verstappen radio message had already been broadcast earlier in the race, as the reigning champion complained about being asked not to push the tyres too hard on the lap after both his pit-stops.
Verstappen felt that without these requests, Leclerc would not have stayed ahead when he emerged from his own pit-stops.
Lap 32
Verstappen: “OK this is now two times that I take it easy on the out-lap, that I could have been in front.
“I am never, ever doing it again!”
Max Verstappen would likely have finished second without car issues. Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images
The drama would continue…
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