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Reuters

Agence France-Presse

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen blasted Formula 1’s ⁠new era as a “joke” ⁠on Sunday after retiring from the ⁠Chinese Grand Prix with a power unit problem.
The Red Bull driver, no fan of the new engine with its increased electrical element and need to manage energy deployment, slowed and limped back to the pits on lap 46.
He was not ‌classified in a race of 15 finishers.
The Dutchman was called by his engineer on team radio and told to retire his car because of a cooling issue, but he was not the only driver to suffer.
Four drivers failed even to start in China, including world champion Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri in their McLarens.

Three others, including Verstappen, failed to finish an attritional race that exposed the complexities facing teams under sweeping new regulations.
“You can see that all over the grid,” he said.
“I mean, some cars are not even starting. So yeah, it’s all very complicated.”
The Red Bulls are struggling for pace and grip, seeming to experience greater tyre degradation than their rivals.
“It’s not about being upset at where I am, because I’m actually fighting even more now,” the Dutchman told reporters. “I would say the same if I was winning races, because I care about the racing product.
“For me, it’s a joke,” he continued, calling the new rules “fundamentally flawed”.
The 71-time race winner has spent more ⁠time this season scrapping for meagre points than he has been used to.
He fought his way ‌through the pack from 20th on the grid following a crash in qualifying at last weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, and dropped from eighth to 14th in ‌Saturday’s sprint race in China before finishing ninth and out of the points.
Not ⁠everyone shares Verstappen’s opinion, ⁠with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff praising the racing between his two drivers and the Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles ‌Leclerc.
The Ferrari drivers were also effusive about the battle between them in a race that ultimately saw Kimi Antonelli secure his ‌maiden ‌F1 win for Mercedes.

“Sometimes we are nostalgic about the good old years, but I think the ‌product is good in itself,” Austrian Wolff told reporters after the race.
“The vast majority, through all ⁠demographics, like the sport at the moment,” he added.
“Max is really in a horror show. I’m ⁠sure for someone like Max, who is a full attack guy, it’s difficult to cope and digest.”
Verstappen said he hoped Formula 1 would not prioritise reaching new fans ‌and growing the sport’s appeal ‌by making overtaking easier at the expense of conventional racing.
“I hope they don’t think like that, because it will eventually ruin the sport. It will come and bite them back in the a**,” he said.
“Maybe some fans like it, but they don’t understand racing.”


Shanghai sees massive F1 turnout, boosting city’s pitch as sporting destination

Max Verstappen slams ‘joke’ Formula 1 after being forced to retire from Chinese Grand Prix

Kimi Antonelli wins Chinese Grand Prix to become second-youngest Formula 1 victor

Formula 1 cancels races in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia due to conflict in Middle East

Formula One (F1)

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (centre) gets out of his car after retiring during the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Supporters with cut-outs of Max Verstappen before the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says Max Verstappen “is really in a horror show”. Photo: Reuters

Race winner Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes kisses the trophy as he celebrates winning the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on Sunday. Photo: AP

Kimi Antonelli (left) wipes away tears as he stands with Mercedes teammate George Russell, who finished second, after the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on Sunday. Photo: EPA

Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli stands on his car after winning the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday. Photo: dpa

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton celebrates with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli on the podium. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong triathlon quartet claim Asia bronze as teenage gem confirms potential

Andy Wong (left) and Cade Wright greet Nick Yip at the finish line of the mixed relay race at the U23 Asian Triathlon Championships on Sunday. Photo: Karma Lo

Nick Yip (left) and Tallulah Wright at a changeover in the mixed relay race. Photo: Karma Lo

Hong Kong’s team of (from left) Cade Wright, Nick Yip, Andy Wong and Tallulah Wright. Photo: Karma Lo

Sport

Four-time world champion says new rules are ‘fundamentally flawed’ and fans who like the new overtaking rules ‘don’t understand racing’


Four-time world champion says new rules are ‘fundamentally flawed’ and fans who like the new overtaking rules ‘don’t understand racing’.


Max Verstappen

Red Bull GmbH

Mercedes-Benz

Max Verstappen slams ‘joke’ Formula 1 after being forced to retire from Chinese Grand Prix

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Four-time world champion says new rules are ‘fundamentally flawed’ and fans who like the new overtaking rules ‘don’t understand racing’

Four-time world champion says new rules are ‘fundamentally flawed’ and fans who like the new overtaking rules ‘don’t understand racing’