Max Verstappen is 'not happy' despite leading F1 world standings after two races
Max Verstappen has admitted he's 'not happy' right now, despite recovering from 15th on the grid to finish second in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman's Red Bull Racing teammate Sergio Perez was victorious in Riyadh at the weekend, with the constructor opening up a big lead already on the rest of the field in this year's World Championship.
But Red Bull's dominance and a second place finish was not enough to satisfy Verstappen, the two-time world champion who is gunning for a third successive title this year.
He currently leads the drivers' standings by a single point, after setting the fastest lap in Saudi Arabia – although he went against team orders by doing so. The 25-year-old won the first race of the season in Bahrain.
HE RUNS THESE STREETS!!
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 19, 2023
Sergio Perez wins the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix! Verstappen and Alonso complete the podium#SaudiArabianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/GNDeeoyNRz
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“I recovered to second which is good and in general the whole feeling in the team is happy,” Verstappen told Sky Sports after the race in Saudi Arabia.
“But personally I am not happy. I am not here to be second, especially when you are working very hard back at the factory to come here in a good state and making sure everything is spot on.
“When you are fighting for a championship and it looks like it is just between two cars [Verstappen and Perez] you have to make sure the two cars are reliable. We have to do better, absolutely – a cleaner weekend would be nice.
“We are allowed to race so the best man will finish in front.”
The dominance of the Red Bull cars is becoming a concern for the rest of the grid, with only Fernando Alonso in the new-look Aston Martin appearing capable of challenging Verstappen and Perez for race wins. The veteran Spaniard has two podium finishes in two races so far this season. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell are struggling in the Mercedes while Ferrari also looked short of pace in Saudi Arabia.
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Topics: Max Verstappen, Formula 1, Red Bull Racing
Dominic Booth