Max Verstappen and Red Bull have been subject to a lot of engine issues after testing and Max was clearly unhappy with how the engine performed in Shanghai today.
Verstappen and Ricciardo ended qualifying in P5 and P6, but they are clearly way behind Ferrari and Mercedes with respect to one-lap pace.
Also, they have suffered relaibility issues this season with Daniel Ricciardo being forced to retire due to an electric failure in Bahrain.
Ricciardo was hit with a turbo failure in FP3 on Saturday morning and only a miracle according to Horner helped put Ricciardo back on track for qualifying.
Verstappen too complained about an engine issue in qualifying today. Speaking over the radio, Verstappen notifies his team about a suspected engine issue that caused him trouble during his lap in Q3.
The Dutch drivers felt that there was a definite loss of power whilst pushing hard on corner exits.
Verstappen did express his frustration openly and while it may not be a very wise idea to do so this early on in the season, he is apparently doing it to egg the Renault team on.
“I think it would be a bad thing if it wouldn’t frustrate me, right? I’m here to win races and I think everybody who’s working on my car wants exactly the same thing. If I would say it quietly I think I would be racing in GTs because I wouldn’t bother too much.
“[The complaints are] to put a bit of pressure on them. Not only in public because what I say I don’t mean to the public, it’s to the guys who are listening to my radio.” Max said.
Red Bull have a deal with Renault until the end of the season, but if such problems persist, we could see a new engine supplier for Red Bull from next season on.
