Verstappen furious after qualifying: “This shouldn’t happen!”

He certainly thought he had done the hardest part by turning the first two sectors purple approaching the third sector. But the surprise was huge for the spectators to see Max Verstappen enter the pit lane without even completing his lap time and without anything indicating any mechanical trouble.

And for a good reason, the reigning world champion was called back to his pit… because he simply didn’t have enough fuel in his tank! Red Bull, fearing that their star driver would be disqualified from the session as a result, preferred to play it safe, even if it meant starting in eighth place on a city circuit.

But the blow, Max Verstappen is struggling to take it and clearly made it known to the journalists in the post-session press conference.

« We have run out of fuel. It’s incredibly frustrating and it shouldn’t happen. We should have realized it sooner. I am not at all happy right now. I know, of course, that it’s always a collective effort and that I can make mistakes, the team can make mistakes, but it’s never acceptable. Obviously, we learn from it, but it’s already a bad thing. It shouldn’t happen. » he stated to Sky Sport F1.

“I know, of course, that it’s always a collective effort and that I can make mistakes, the team can make mistakes, but it’s never acceptable.” – Max Verstappen.

It is important to specify that Max Verstappen did not abort just one lap, but actually two! Indeed, in his penultimate attempt, also in the best times, Red Bull called Verstappen back to give him one last attempt on fresh tires. With the result that we know.

“I already had the feeling of being in contention [for pole position] during the previous lap, but they told me to give up, so I said ‘OK!’. But in the last lap, they told me to return to the pit, and I became aware of what was about to happen,” the Dutchman continued.

As he approached the perspectives for the race this Sunday, the leader of the World Championship preferred to cut it short, considering that the comeback would be tough on a circuit like Singapore.

« It’s a bit like in Monaco, it’s really difficult to overtake and we may be able to do some small things with strategy. But for now, I’m not really in the mood to think about tomorrow’s race. Once I get back in the car, I’ll always give my best, but for now, I’m just super frustrated by what just happened. I’m going back to the hotel and I’ll think about something else.

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The Red Bull driver has a first match point this Sunday to win a second world crown against Leclerc and Pérez. But the Dutchman must win the race no matter what, and it might not be an easy task in the streets of Marina Bay!