Formula 1: Alarm mood at Red Bull for anger races of Verstappen

After a severe Wüterich relapse from Max Verstappen with a ramb’s impact, the Formula 1 World Cup threatens to become a pure McLaren duel early. An “all-in” tire tactic seemed to work at the Grand Prix of Spain for the four-time champion before escalating in a gripping final phase and was only tenth after a ten-second penalty. “It was an upright atmosphere,” said Red Bull’s motorsport consultant Helmut Marko: “Then there is a certain frustration that is expressed in the driving style.”

There were no blame of the Verstappen intimus in the Sky conversation. Overall, the situation for the team is far too serious. After the defeat in the constructors World Cup against McLaren last year, the driver’s World Cup for Red Bull and Verstappen against Spain winner Oscar Piatri and the second-placed Lando Norris threatens this year. “The deficit is slowly becoming frightening,” said Marko. “We are two or three tenths of a second slower. The time cannot catch up.”

In the spectacular final phase after a Safety car use, Verstappen and his Red Bull scored the Mercedes of the fourth-placed George Russell and was punished for it. He slipped back to the completely disappointing tenth place. Verstappen was not particularly pleasant afterwards: “It was a shame with the Safety Car, I only had hard tires that didn’t work. I didn’t have a grip. Until then it was a positive race, a third place was possible,” he said RTL.

49 points behind frustration for frustration

Meanwhile, Piatri already celebrated the fifth victory in the ninth season race. Teammate Norris could not endanger the Australian a week after his Monaco Triumph. “I can’t complain, it is a great year so far and this weekend was exactly the kind of weekend that I wanted,” said Piatri.

Third came to Charles Leclerc in Ferrari, against whom after a maneuver against Verstappen was also investigated. Nico Hülkenberg drove a famosen fifth place in the clean, and he also left Lewis Hamilton’s record champion in Ferrari after a great maneuver.

Racing winner Piatri expanded his lead. He now has 186 points, Norris comes to 176. Verstappen only got one point and only has 137 – and thus 49 points less than Piatri.

Hamilton criticism of re-enactment: “waste of money”

It was actually good for Verstappen. In the slipstream of Polesetter Piatri, he passed Norris and set himself on the persecution of Piatri. The 27 -year -old Dutch did not seriously dangerous to the 24 -year -old Australian. Piatri already won four of the eight Grand Prix until the Spanish race. Two, including the classic in Monaco, won Norris.

From the weekend in Catalonia, however, the rule of rule applies, the front wings can bend even less. Some believed that McLaren had exhausted this and could be more suffering. But they saw themselves deceived. Record world champion Lewis Hamilton from Ferrari even described the measure as a waste of money: “Nothing has changed.”

First cruiste Piatri in front. Verstappen decided to change the first tire early. A week after the Langweiler of Monaco, the Spain race quickly became a strategy battle. With Verstappen, Red Bull risen to put McLaren under pressure. Because he also had to have Norris overtaken without much resistance.

Verstappens Attacke tactics: full throttle with new tires

The strategy first worked. The last year’s winner caught up with the fresh tires so much that he was lying in front of Norris and Piatri when they came back on the track after their first tire change. But Verstappen was not satisfied with the car. “It is so difficult to drive, you can’t brake,” sparked Verstappen. Shortly afterwards he came in for the second pit stop.

The next catch -up started with fresh rubber. He came to Charles Leclerc in Ferrari. Now there were only Piatri and Norris ahead of the Barcelona winner of the past three years. But it didn’t seem to work.

Displacement of astonishment about the final tire selection

But then a defect of the Mercedes from Kimi Antonelli caused a safety car phase. Everyone was able to change the tires quickly. The opportunity for Verstappen! But in astonishment, he found that he had received the toughest tire mix. There were no other options, the command stand replied.

Six laps before the end there was a showdown: Piatri defended the lead, behind it stayed Norris, Verstappen slipped with the hard tires, Leclerc then passed. And then the team also divided that he should let Russell pass in the Mercedes because he had given him an unauthorized advantage beforehand. He reluctantly followed the instruction and rammed the silver arrow. “It’s just a shame that something like this happens from time to time. It never brings him anything,” said Russell.