Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has insisted Max Verstappen’s frustrations were understandable after he was forced to retire from the Australian Grand Prix. Verstappen had been bidding for a 10th consecutive Grand Prix win, but the reigning three-time world champion saw his challenge end after just four laps. Shortly afterwards smoke started to come from the rear of Verstappen’s Red Bull, resulting in the Dutchman slowly making his way back to the pits to retire from a race for the first time in two years. Verstappen appeared to have a tense exchange with a mechanic after climbing out of the smoking vehicle, with the 26-year-old appearing to mouth the word ‘stupid’. Verstappen also laughed off the incident, with the Dutchman questioning why three wheels on the car were being changed when it was on fire. Verstappen’s last retirement came courtesy of a fuel leak at the 2022 Australian Grand Prix. It was the first time that neither Hamilton or Verstappen finished a race since they collided at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.

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