Breaking news
Formula 1 Austrian GP
Clutch issue to blame for Verstappen’s first-corner exit
Max Verstappen says a clutch problem at the start of the Austrian Grand Prix led to him being collected at the first corner, forcing him out for the third grand prix on the trot.
Charles Bradley
Edited: Jul 9, 2017, 2:13 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Verstappen suffered a clutch issue leaving the startline in Spielberg, which meant he tumbled down the order in the race to the first corner.
There, he was hit by Fernando Alonso's McLaren, which had already been punted into a spin by Daniil Kvyat's Toro Rosso.
"I already felt in the formation lap that it was not fantastic," said Verstappen. "And in the actual start I got a failure, so I got anti-stall, and then on the run up to Turn 1 it didn't feel great.
"I tried to stay out of trouble, to go wide, and I got hit on the rear tyre. Because of that, the clutch over-engaged, and it basically broke the bearing in the clutch. So I had no drive anymore.
"Of course I'm very disappointed for the fans, they were the best crowd I've seen so far and I couldn't even do a start or one corner for them, never mind 71 laps."
Alonso also forced out
Austria also marked a seventh non-finish of the season for Alonso, who was forced to retire with accident damage.
"It's a shame, but it wasn't in our hands," said Alonso. "Carlos [Sainz] and Verstappen had some problems and we had recovered those two positions and we arrived in Turn 1 and they touched us and ruined our races.
"We can't do anything, it's not in our hands. The starts are like this sometimes and these things happen, and when you are in the middle of the group or at the back there's more problems, and today it was our turn and hopefully next time it will be fine."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Austrian GP: Top 10 quotes after race
Next article Vettel believes Bottas jumped the start
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Charles Bradley
Mika Hakkinen on his darkest day in F1
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mika Hakkinen on his darkest day in F1
Dillon: Spotter was “wrong” to shout “wreck him!” before Hamlin clash
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Richmond II
Dillon: Spotter was “wrong” to shout “wreck him!” before Hamlin clash
Hamlin: NASCAR stripping Dillon of win would be “warranted”
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
Richmond II
Hamlin: NASCAR stripping Dillon of win would be “warranted”
More from
Fernando Alonso
Who slept worst last night: Fernando Alonso
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
7 h
Who slept worst last night: Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin knew before Mexico GP it would not finish, Honda brings new countermeasures
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
Aston Martin knew before Mexico GP it would not finish, Honda brings new countermeasures
More from
Red Bull Racing
How Max Verstappen beat Red Bull's own simulation tools with P2 in Brazil
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
5 h
How Max Verstappen beat Red Bull's own simulation tools with P2 in Brazil
Max Verstappen "needs to understand what happened" after "night and day" F1 comeback in Brazilian GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
19 h
Max Verstappen "needs to understand what happened" after "night and day" F1 comeback in Brazilian GP
Latest news
Noah Gragson apologizes to Daniel Suarez for spinning him at Homestead
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
11 min
Noah Gragson apologizes to Daniel Suarez for spinning him at Homestead
Ex-DTM champion Guven fails to clear Formula E license hurdle: What is Porsche doing?
DTM
DTM DTM 17 min
Ex-DTM champion Guven fails to clear Formula E license hurdle: What is Porsche doing?
Ferrari explains tyre pressure mistake in Monza WEC
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
20 min
Ferrari explains tyre pressure mistake in Monza WEC
Winners and losers from a different NASCAR Cup finale at Homestead
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
33 min
Winners and losers from a different NASCAR Cup finale at Homestead
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe