Verstappen unhappy with 'irresponsible' Leclerc after Suzuka crash

  • Published on 13 Oct 2019 11:29
  • comments 6
  • By: Dieter Rencken & Fergal Walsh

Max Verstappen has expressed frustration over his lap one crash with Charles Leclerc, which ultimately put an end to his Japanese Grand Prix.

The two came together at Turn 2 as Verstappen held the outside line through the corner before being hit by the Ferrari driver, sending him into a half spin through the grass.

Verstappen retired a number of laps later due to the damage he sustained, while Leclerc went on to finish the race in sixth position, making three pit stops along the way.

The Red Bull driver labelled Leclerc as "irresponsible" after he suffered his second DNF of the season.

“Suddenly into Turn 2, Charles just drove into the side of my car,” Verstappen said. “From my side I don’t think I could have done anything different there.

“The weird thing is that initially they don’t even investigate it. My whole car is destroyed. The whole side. There were just holes in the side of the car. And then they start to investigate it but now it’s after the race.

“I mean, what more should he do to get a penalty? I like hard racing, but I don’t think this was hard racing. This was just irresponsible driving into Turn 2.”

Verstappen believes that without the Leclerc contact, he would have been in a position to fight for a podium finish after his strong launch off the line. 

"I had to start again from the back, but my car was so damaged, it made no sense," he said". "So we decided to retire the car.

"It's very frustrating, because I think that we could have had a good chance to be on the podium again after that. I just don't get it.

"There was no need to risk so much at Turn 2. At the end f the day, both of us had to pit, of course I got more damage than what he had because he could continue with a new nose. So it's not good."

f1ski

Posts: 726

Stop your f###ing whining. If Everyone knows this why would you put yourself in harms may on the out side? tuck in behind and pass with better drive out of the corner. Pulling up along side I am sure exacerbates the dirty air more ensuring the car washes wide.

  • 1
  • Oct 13 2019 - 15:04

Replies (6)

Login to reply
  • f1ski

    Posts: 726

    Stop your f###ing whining. If Everyone knows this why would you put yourself in harms may on the out side? tuck in behind and pass with better drive out of the corner. Pulling up along side I am sure exacerbates the dirty air more ensuring the car washes wide.

    • + 1
    • Oct 13 2019 - 15:04
  • Hm, you shouldn't really talk, Max. Remember Spa? I do, and it's painful everytime.

    • + 0
    • Oct 13 2019 - 15:07
    • Gotta say that I cringed when I heard Max whining on the radio and afterwards. While I found what Charles did clumsy and worthy of a penalty, I did get some satisfaction out Max being on the receiving end for once. That being said, I hope the pendulum didn't get pushed so far in the opposite direction that we allow for recklessness to go unpunished. I am still of the opinion that both Charles and Albon deserved a penalty. At least warning or something during the race, not after.

      • + 0
      • Oct 14 2019 - 21:51
    • Yes, the least we need is for berserks to go unpunished, but I don't think they will, looking at the season as a whole. What complicated the Albon situation was that Norris steered into Albon as the Thai shot forward. I feel Albon didn't deserve a penalty, but he should be warned, and since the incident was "noted", I feel that was probably what he got postrace. As for Lerclerc: another Ferrari driver doing a reckless move that costed the team. Max' postrace interview didn't impress me in the slightest, because a lot of the stuff he complained about apply wholly to himself too. I cheer for RBH, so I didn't gain pleasure from him being out of the race, but I see where you're coming from.

      • + 0
      • Oct 15 2019 - 07:03
  • abhidbgt

    Posts: 283

    He has lesser ground than most to say of such incidents as he has been on the inside and clipped the outside driver many a times. Remember China last year?

    • + 1
    • Oct 13 2019 - 18:56
  • What goes around comes around. In my estimation he's got a bit more coming back to him for ruining people's races the past few years. And yeah, quityerbitchin.

    • + 0
    • Oct 14 2019 - 04:34

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Country Netherlands
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (25)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), Netherlands
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar