This is what Verstappen thought was 'f****** stupid' after DNF
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- GPblog.com
Max Verstappen had his first retirement in two years in the early stages of the Australian Grand Prix. His right-rear brake caught fire after it already felt like the handbrake was on, according to the Dutchman. After he got out in the Red Bull Racing garage, he could be seen saying 'f****** stupid' to chief engineer Paul Monaghan. In the paddock at Albert Park, he explained why.
"My right-rear brake stuck from the moment the lights went out. So yes, the temperature kept rising to the point where it caught fire. It was like the handbrake was on," Verstappen explained again. "Of course, I didn't know that was happening, but I felt that the balance in the car was not right because of that problem."
Verstappen didn't understand why Red Bull pitted him
On the third lap of the Formula 1 race, after Carlos Sainz had overtaken him, smoke could be seen coming out of Verstappen's RB20. That smoke appeared to be coming from the right-rear brake, which had caught fire. Red Bull called the Dutchman back to the pits, after which he got out of the car and could be seen saying 'fucking stupid' to Monaghan.
The championship leader explained why he made that statement. "That had to do with the fact that we made a pit stop while the car was on fire. I was like, why are we making a pit stop now?" said Verstappen, who does not know what caused the brake problem in the first place.