Verstappen's Monaco Grand Prix is over after horrific start
Photo: Race Pictures
Updated:
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Kada Sárközi joined GPblog as an editor ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season. He graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in the UK and has covered Grands Prix and other F1 events live.
Max Verstappen's Monaco Grand Prix got flipped on its head immediately after the lights went. The RB22 failed to accelerate off the line. The Dutchman was in last place, and had to retire from the race.
"Yep nice, completely **** guys, what the **** man?" Verstappen said over the team radio after getting off the line very slowly. Luckily, everyone behind managed to avoid the Red Bull Racing car, and the incident did not lead to any further problems.
Then, over the team radio, Gianpiero Lambiase told the four-time world champion to bring his car back into the pit lane, where he had to retire from the race. Follow the session with GPblog's liveblog here!
Verstappen's slow start at the Monaco Grand Prix
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What went wrong on Verstappen's Red Bull?
Max Verstappen speaking to Sky Sports F1 after retiring on the first lap of the Monaco Grand Prix:
"Already the formation lap was not going very well and then, after that, the pre-start was terrible, there was no consistency, and then the engine just dropped dead.
"I only got a little bit of power back after the first corner and then the engine sounded really awful. I could not go full throttle so we brought it back [to the pits] and that was it."
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Verstappen's frustrating race comes at a crucial point of the season for his Red Bull team, who were already under pressure to deliver. The team will now begin a forensic examination of what went wrong in Monaco.
Hadjar now in trouble
Verstappen's teammate Isack Hadjar in fourth on the team radio: "Oh my god, the engine braking is a joke! What's happening?
"Something's wrong. First gear is not usable." He adds: "Something's going to explode. The engine is not healthy right now."
Keep up to date with all the action from Monaco here.
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