Max Verstappen’s frustration with Red Bull boiled over after the British GP as the Dutchman admitted he wanted to leave Silverstone and stop thinking about Formula 1.
Already unhappy amid another difficult weekend, Verstappen’s race ended when a rear wing problem sent him into the gravel while he was running third.
“At this point I just want to go home and not think about Formula 1,” the Dutchman said.
Verstappen insisted even a podium would have done little to ease his frustration. “It would have left a bitter taste, because we didn’t deserve it.”
The latest failure came hot on the heels of a similar rear wing problem in Austria. “At that point, it’s especially super dangerous,” Verstappen said.
“You can get really hurt, twice. This is why I’m completely done with it.”
The result followed another disagreement within the team before the race, when Verstappen wanted to take a new power unit and start from the pitlane because of ongoing engine concerns.
Asked why Red Bull rejected that request, Verstappen snapped: “Don’t ask me that question.”
Team boss Laurent Mekies later acknowledged the difference of opinion.
“We accept that Max had a different idea, and he is driving the car,” the Frenchman said. “But I am not sure if that third place would have been possible if we had started from the pitlane.”
Mekies also apologised for the rear wing failure.
“There is no doubt we will fix it to ensure this never happens again,” he said.
He admitted it remains unclear whether the repeated failures point to a flaw in Red Bull’s ’Macarena’ rear wing concept. He also conceded Verstappen’s complaints about the team’s power unit remain justified.
“Max is right. Drivability has been a limiting factor since the beginning of the season.
“Everyone has worked extremely hard to get a good power unit, but it’s clear that we still need to make progress there. This difference in drivability is costing us lap time and consistency.”
Verstappen, meanwhile, made no attempt to hide his anger after the race.
“I’m not going to say anything about the future right now. Of course, this is frustrating. It would be very peculiar if I were to act very ’zen’ right now.
“I need a few days to reset. I’m doing my best. I can’t do more than that. Just way too much is going wrong.”
Asked what he planned to do next, Verstappen replied: “I’m going home as soon as possible.
“Get out of here. Right home. Right away.”
Asked if he still had confidence in the team’s knowledge, in the wake of a protracted period of personnel losses, Verstappen replied: “Time will tell.”
“I don’t want anything to do with it to be honest.”
Paddock observers noted Verstappen appeared angrier than at almost any point during his Formula 1 career, while television cameras also captured tense post-race discussions involving Mekies, Jos Verstappen and manager Raymond Vermeulen.
