Breaking news
Formula 1
Verstappens starting to "question everything" at Red Bull
Jos Verstappen has admitted that he and his son Max are starting to question whether Red Bull can turn around its situation with Renault, as frustration mounts over his run of retirements.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Aug 28, 2017, 12:23 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Adding to what has been a season of disappointment, Max Verstappen was forced out of the Belgian Grand Prix with an engine failure when running fifth.
It was his fourth mechanical failure in a race this year, and his sixth retirement of the campaign so far.
Speaking to Dutch TV channel Ziggo Sport, Jos Verstappen said the situation was getting very difficult to accept – but he drew short of saying that the time had come to start looking for another team.
Asked if it as an option to leave Red Bull, the former grand prix driver said: "Maybe this is the wrong moment to ask this question, but you do start to question everything.
"I notice about Max that he's very disappointed. It's tough to keep yourself motivated the whole time when things are going like this.
"I mean, he's doing very well in qualifying, he's half a second quicker than his team mate and he's just behind the Ferraris.
"And then, after seven or eight laps, he's standing at the side of the track again. This should not be able to happen, certainly not at a top team."
Verstappen also moved to dismiss any suggestion that his son's driving style was contributing to the fact that he had suffered the brunt of Red Bull's failures this year.
"Max can't do anything. Max isn't doing anything wrong," added Jos "People are asking that question again if Max is being too tough on his equipment. But that's complete nonsense.
"He can't overdrive, he can't break the material. We all know what it is: it's just the equipment that isn't good enough."
When asked if there was still something to be salvaged, Verstappen replied: "This year certainly not.
"I think we all need to calm down for a bit and then maybe we need to sit down with each other because this won't last if things keep going like this."
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 Analysis: How a lucky mistake helped Hamilton beat Vettel
Next article Top statistics from the Belgian GP
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Max Verstappen
Red Bull drivers fear Mexico start, Max Verstappen jokes: “A Le Mans start would be just as quick”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Red Bull drivers fear Mexico start, Max Verstappen jokes: “A Le Mans start would be just as quick”
More from
Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen clears the air with Liam Lawson, but stays tight-lipped on Racing Bulls F1 seat
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Max Verstappen clears the air with Liam Lawson, but stays tight-lipped on Racing Bulls F1 seat
When Red Bull expects to start using its long-awaited new F1 wind tunnel
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
When Red Bull expects to start using its long-awaited new F1 wind tunnel
Latest news
Who slept best last night: Kimi Antonelli
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
49 min
Who slept best last night: Kimi Antonelli
FIA reveals revised Junior WRC for 2027
WRC
WRC WRC 59 min
FIA reveals revised Junior WRC for 2027
How MotoGP teams and riders are organising themselves for their arrival in Qatar
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
1 h
How MotoGP teams and riders are organising themselves for their arrival in Qatar
Mexico Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2026
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Mexico Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2026
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