Verstappen fumes at Red Bull: Why didn't you just let me go?
F1 News
Verstappen fumes at Red Bull: Why didn't you just let me go?
Max Verstappen was left frustrated after race control forced him to surrender his lead in the Bahrain Grand Prix to eventual winner Lewis Hamilton.
In a thrilling race, Hamilton was able to keep Verstappen at bay in the closing laps as the Dutchman stalked him on tyres 10 laps fresher.
Verstappen did get through with four laps remaining, but exceeded the track limits at turn four and was given orders from race control - via his Red Bull team - to allow Hamilton back through.
Despite his best efforts, he just could not get close enough in the DRS zone to pass Hamilton, allowing the seven-time world champion to take the chequered flag.
Verstappen had complained over team radio at the orders coming from his team, saying, "Why didn't you just let me go?
"I could have easily pulled [away] five seconds. I prefer to lose or win like that then be second like this."
Verstappen's suggestion was that he could have pulled a five-second gap to Hamilton and still won if he had been handed a penalty from the stewards.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner responded by saying: "It was an instruction from race control Max. But that was one hell of a drive you put out there."
After the race, Verstappen said: "It was a shame. You also have to see the positive, we are really putting the fight to them [Mercedes] and that's great to start the year like that."
When asked about potential differential issues that were potentially causing him issues, he added: "I don't think it was completely solved the whole race, so we'll have to have a look at that, but we managed to finish the race and score good points."
Related news
Verstappen's Red Bull first tainted by historic F1 curse - Bahrain GP stats
Ferrari haunted by ghosts of F1 past as Aston Martin embarrass rivals - What we learned at the Bahrain GP
F1 2023 drivers' standings post-Bahrain Grand Prix
Wolff promises RADICAL upgrade as Mercedes boss admits to Bahrain career low
Most read
FIA take action after Verstappen track limits mishap
F1 News Today: FIA make changes as Mercedes receive double penalty and Horner curses bad luck
Red Bull to replace driver at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Stroll issues Alonso Aston Martin contract verdict
Horner takes aim at Kravitz with savage jibe at Sky Sports pundit
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Nyck De Vries
- Liam Lawson
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2023
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of Australia 2023
- Grand Prix of China 2023
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2023
- Miami Grand Prix 2023
- Qatar Airways Gran Premio Del Made In Italy E Dell'emilia Romagna 2023
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2023
- AWS Gran Premio de España 2023
- Grand Prix du Canada 2023
- Grand Prix of Austria 2023
- Aramco Grand Prix of Great Britain 2023
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2023
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2023
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of Italy 2023
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2023
- Grand Prix of Japan 2023
- Qatar Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of the United States 2023
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2023
- Rolex Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2023
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2023
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860