After just a handful of laps at the Hungaroring, Max Verstappen slowed to a crawl and eventual retirement. In the heat of the moment, he cursed so much that it would have made a sailor blush.
Now, with a calmer mind, he has regretted his expletive-filled radio rant. The 20-year-old cursed up a storm as the latest problem plagued the team’s Renault power units. He had been running fifth and chasing Kimi Raikkonen at the time.
Verstappen has apologised for the use of vulgar language on Instagram. He then went on to justify his frustration.
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“Looking back on yesterday the disappointment is still there,” said Verstappen. The Dutchman has now retired from four races this season and is desperate for a decent race finish.
He continued, “However, I should not have used the words I did in the heat of the moment. Emotions were running high after a good start to the race.
He said that the frustrations had a very good reason for being displayed. It was a result of a reaction to yet another unexpected engine failure. An occurrence that has happened far too often over the past few years and too often for Red Bull’s liking.
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They came to Budapest with a lot of expectations and hopes riding on them. So, being unable to match their rivals was a bitter pill to swallow.
The culprit behind Verstappen’s Hungaroring retirement was a faulty MGU-K. This was a mere seven days after team-mate Daniel Ricciardo retired in Hockenheim with another engine fault.
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Verstappen and team boss Christian Horner even questioned Renault and the effort that they were currently providing Red Bull. The latter even said “I’ll let Cyril [Abiteboul, Renault’s team boss] come up with the excuses afterwards.”
After several tumultuous years , the two parties have mutually agreed to part ways. Next season Red Bull will begin a new partnership with Honda.