The Dutchman was forced to retire in Australia, the third round of the season.
The three-time reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, victim of a mechanical problem on his Red Bull, was forced to retire on Sunday during the Australian Grand Prix, the third round of the season.
The Albert Park track, in the heart of Melbourne, will therefore not be the scene of a tenth consecutive GP victory for “Mad Max”: for the first time since Australia in 2022, the championship leader world had to abandon a GP, due to a mechanical problem on his RB20.
Verstappen started at the head of the GP after signing his 35th pole in F1 on Saturday, during qualifying.
But after being overtaken by Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) on the second lap of the race, the Dutchman reported a few moments later that “smoke, blue smoke” was emerging from his car.
Before this third meeting of the season (out of 24), Verstappen was 15 points ahead of his runner-up and teammate at Red Bull, the Mexican Sergio Pérez.
Knowing that a victory earns 25 points (+1 additional point to the person who signs the best lap in the race), the world champion could lose the lead in the championship.
After 20 laps completed (out of 58), Sainz occupies the lead of the race ahead of his Ferrari teammate, the Monegasque Charles Leclerc and the Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren).
