Verstappen was helpless after Perez-Leclerc crash

According to former F1 driver Christijan Albers, Max Verstappen could do nothing after Charles Leclerc spun Sergio Perez. The Red Bull Racing driver hoped to avoid the two cars, but ended up in the of tyres via the gravel pit.

Verstappen was trapped behind Bottas

Albers looked back on a strong start from Verstappen. The Dutchman was right behind Valtteri Bottas. "Max was gone super well again. You can see that at some point he has to lift a bit. He has to choose his position, does he stay behind Bottas in the slipstream as long as possible or does he move behind Russell?," Albers started in De Telegraaf's Formula 1 Podcast.

"Bottas had an upset moment in turn two. That is why Max had to lift again. Then you give Perez the opportunity, because he had been given much more speed. Then they start braking and Leclerc gets a free slipstream." the former F1 driver continued.

Leclerc made a big mistake

"I feel that Max is slowing down a bit sooner to position himself, so that he can cut that corner better, so that he can get on the throttle faster. Then you have Leclerc and he just brakes 50 metres too late. Perez has been incredibly lucky."

According to Albers, Verstappen couldn't do anything after Leclerc hit Perez's car. "You saw that the suspension broke off at Leclerc's. Max gets Leclerc on the left and Perez on the right. He was a passenger in his own car."