Max Verstappen: “Terrible” Start in Melbourne
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Grid & Start Issues:
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Started 20th after crashing in Q1 due to a rear axle lock.
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No battery at race start: his RB22’s energy was fully drained on the formation lap.
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Resulted in a very slow launch, similar to teammate Isack Hadjar.
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Race Progress:
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Recovered well to finish 6th, despite the difficult start.
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Ran a two-stop strategy, starting on the hard tyre, but the medium compound proved superior.
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Competed with Lando Norris for the last stages but could not overtake.
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Thoughts on the New Rules:
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Verstappen criticises F1 2026 energy management regulations, calling racing “not fun” under the current setup.
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Emphasises that his criticism comes out of love for the sport, not negativity:
“I love racing, but you can only take so much… we just want the best for the sport.”
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Hopes that FIA and F1 can implement changes to make racing more enjoyable this season.
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Car & Team Positives:
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Praises Red Bull and DM01 engine work:
“From the engine side, I’m not too bad… the guys have done an amazing job.”
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Admits the current lack of pace is half-car, half-engine, which is manageable.
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Summary of Race Sentiment:
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“Whole day a disaster” at the start, but satisfied with car and engine performance.
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Frustration mostly stems from energy management and launch procedures, not competitiveness.
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