Max Verstappen retired from the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix after initially failing to get off the grid, and explained what went wrong on his Red Bull.
The Dutchman was hopeful of scoring a first win of the season, having lined-up second on the grid, but at lights out, it went horribly wrong.
After initially getting away, the RB22 bogged down, sending him tumbling to the back of the field.
Despite eventually getting away, a lap on mostly electrical power saw Verstappen coast around, before throwing in the towel and retiring the car.
After making his way back to the paddock, Verstappen explained to media, including Motorsport Week, what happened from his perspective.
“Yeah, formation lap [it] already felt a bit off,” he said, “but then on the pre-start it was completely… normally you find your RPM target, but it was not going at all, it was just shooting up and down a lot, a bit weird.
“And then as soon as I dropped the clutch that was it, the engine bogged down completely and after that, the noise that I heard from the engine once I got some power back out of turn one was very bad so I immediately just lifted off and brought it home.”
Verstappen appeared nonchalant about his DNF, aware that this has done little to affect and unlikely title charge.
“If I would be leading the championship then of course it’s a very very painful one, like this less painful but it’s still really annoying and disappointing for everyone,” he said.
“We know of course everyone wants to finish every single race but yeah like this I just hope that we understand quickly what it is and that we can fix it also for the future.”
Motorsport Week observed that Verstappen’s engine cover on the RB22 was removed incredibly close to it leaving the garage to take up his slot on the grid, but when asked the reason, Verstappen replied: “It was just to double-check something, but it was OK.”
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