Max Verstappen Raises Safety Concerns After British Grand Prix Crash
Max Verstappen expressed serious concerns over a problem with his Red Bull car that led to his crash at the British Grand Prix, labeling it as “dangerous.” The four-time world champion described his frustration by stating he felt “really disgusted” by the incident.
In pursuit of a podium finish at Silverstone, Verstappen spun out at the high-speed Stow corner, leaving his car stranded in the gravel. This crash mirrored a similar incident during the qualifying rounds of the previous week’s Austrian Grand Prix. He explained that both spins were attributed to his rear wing, which had malfunctioned by opening to gain speed and subsequently failing to fully close.
Verstappen elaborated on the issue, indicating that although the analysis suggested the rear wing was closed, it had not fully engaged, leading to a substantial loss of downforce and ultimately causing him to lose control. “If it happens once, it can be considered a defect, but if it happens twice, it’s very dangerous for me since I could get injured in these high-speed corners,” he added.
This situation unfolds amid growing speculation about Verstappen’s future with Red Bull, especially after reports of discussions with McLaren last month. In a separate interview, he mentioned feeling fortunate to have escaped serious injury in both the Austrian and British races, stating, “I was lucky in Austria, and I was lucky here. But that’s why I’m so fed up.”
Challenging Conditions Over the Weekend
Despite favorable conditions that put him in contention for a podium finish, Verstappen faced stiff competition and multiple issues involving rival teams, particularly Mercedes. Both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton encountered mechanical problems, which helped Verstappen maintain his position. “We were fortunate, weren’t we? But we were simply too slow,” he remarked, emphasizing that even if he had reached the podium, it would have felt undeserved.
Verstappen’s performance was also affected by tire issues, which impeded his ability to compete effectively. He noted, “Even if I had been on the podium, it would have been a bad podium for my pace because I couldn’t go anywhere on the hard tires and had no grip.” His underwhelming performance was evident as he struggled with his car’s balance throughout the race.
Red Bull Management Addresses Verstappen’s Concerns
Laurent Mekies, Red Bull’s sporting director, acknowledged the frustration felt by both Verstappen and the team. He stated, “He’s right to not be happy. For a driver, it’s particularly unpleasant to be let down by a car during fast corners in back-to-back races.” Mekies reinforced the team’s commitment to resolving the issues and ensuring that similar incidents do not recur.
“Sending drivers into gravel traps is very unpleasant for us as a group, so it’s understandable that he feels this way,” Mekies added. “We take this seriously, and we aim to rectify these concerns as quickly as possible.”
The Formula 1 circuit will continue with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, set for July 17-19. Fans can catch all the live action on Sky Sports F1, making it an event not to be missed.
