Max Verstappen retired from the Monaco Grand Prix after an engine failure struck on the first lap.
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Almost the entire field had to take evasive action as the Red Bull driver slipped away slowly from the front row.
Verstappen told his team immediately that he had problems on the formation lap, and he repeated the same to media after his retirement.
“Already the formation lap was not going very well,” Verstappen said to Sky. “Then, after that, the pre-start was terrible, there was just no consistency.
“Then the engine just dropped out and I only got a little bit of power back after the first corner. Then the engine sounded really awful.
“I could not go full-throttle, so we brought it back, and that was it.”
| Speaker | Message |
| Lambiase | Formation lap So one long burnout, exit turn 18, four long burn-outs exit turn 19 and an extra ramp. |
| Lambiase | So we need both mode four and strat three. |
| Lambiase | Last car approaching the back of the grid now. |
| Verstappen | Verstappen gets away very slowly and falls to back of grid Yep, nice. Completely fucked. Guys, what the fuck, man? |
| Lambiase | Stand by, Max. |
| Verstappen | Already the formation lap… guys the engine has broken, the engine is broken. |
| Verstappen | So what should I do? |
| Lambiase | Just bring it home please, Max. |
| Lambiase | So box, Max. |
| Lambiase | Verstappen pits and retires On marks and switch off, please. |
This article will be updated
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