Verstappen's first DNF in Sochi: “We could have scored many points”
Published on 01 May 2016 by Mike Motilall
Max Verstappen failed to finish for the first time this season, it happened during the Russian Grand Prix. After a difficult Friday and a much better Saturday, the youngster impressed friend and foe by being briefly second in the Sochi-race. While being certain to score points in sixth place, Verstappen was unfortunately forced to retire his Toro Rosso with technical issues from the race. Nico Rosberg, once again, claimed victory with ease; his fourth in a row. Lewis Hamilton, starting from tenth, finished second as Kimi Raikkonen completed the podium in third for Ferrari.
After the race, Verstappen recounts with mixed feelings: “It is a disappointing result. Not only for me but also for the team, because we could have scored many points here today. The race was good before until we ran into engine issues. I was following the drivers in front of me. We could have been fifth or sixth because from the rear there was no pressure. I was in complete control of my position on track. In that respect it was a lonely race. Later on, we saw drivers having issues with their tyres, so who knows, there might have been more in store for us. My tyres were fine. And then the engine died.” The problem manifested itself long before it actually happened, says Max: “Exiting turn 13, I felt that something was not right and moments later I needed to retire the car. Before that, there was no problem at all. But, that is racing: it is a mechanical sport, so these things happen.”
During the parade lap, Max is heard reporting over the radio to his team: “I think there is a problem here, the engine just completely disappeared when I went on throttle.” When he eventually gets to his starting position, his team is not showing any signs of panic at all. When the race finally gets underway, there is also nothing showing up, although Verstappen has a poor getting off the line. Fortunately this causes him to keep his nose clean as in the first two turns, drivers are spinning off track, one after the other. It starts with Daniil Kvyat, who hits Sebastian Vettel when braking for turn two. Causing the German to, in turn, hit Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull. In the third corner, the Russian driver hits the Ferrari again, sending Vettel off in the tyres and forcing him to retire from the race. At the rear, Rio Haryanto and Nico Hülkenberg also needed to leave the scene due to crashes, also in turn two. Esteban Gutierrez is the one penalized for this. He gets, just like Kvyat, a ten second stop-and-go penalty. This whole situation earns Max the sixth spot and after just three laps, the safety car is on track.
The re-start didn’t bring any advantage for Verstappen, even though he is able to knock on Massa’s door for fifth, he is forced to watch the Brazilian go. Behind Verstappen, there are no drivers faster than he is and the mid-field is slowly falling apart. The Toro Rosso-driver laps the track in consistent 1:43’s. When Valtteri Bottas makes his first pit stop, Max gets awarded the fifth spot. One lap later, Hamilton also pits, enabling the Dutchman to progress to P4. Another lap later, the Toro Rosso is running around in a podium position as Felipe Massa also leaves the track for his first pit stop.
When Hamilton manages to pass Bottas, the Brit puts the pedal to the metal and immediately does the fastest lap. When Raikkonen pits, Verstappen is even in second for a couple of laps. In lap 23, the young Toro Rosso-driver is in for his stop and switches to a soft set of compound tyres. He re-emerges in seventh on track and is gaining on Sergio Perez who, on the softs also, hasn’t stopped yet.
Verstappen’s team mate, Carlos Sainz, has fallen way back due to an early stop. On top of that, he is given a ten second stop-and-go penalty after having pushed Jolyon Palmer off track during overtaking.
In lap 34, Toro Rosso is in dire straits as their car comes crawling down the straight. There isn’t much Max can do than to park the STR11 alongside the track. Resulting in his first DNF-score for this season.
At the front, Hamilton is not able to close the gap to Rosberg anymore, making sure the German is able to claim his seventh consecutive win. Kimi Raikkonen drives his Ferrari to the third spot, grabbing the final podium position.
Russian GP - Sochi Autodrom - Sunday 1 May
RACE RESULTS P Driver Team Time 1 Nico Rosberg GER Mercedes 1:32:41.997 2 Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes +25.022s 3 Kimi Raikkonen FIN Ferrari +31.998s 4 Valtteri Bottas FIN Williams +50.217s 5 Felipe Massa BRA Williams +74.427s 6 Fernando Alonso ESP McLaren +1 lap 7 Kevin Magnussen DEN Renault +1 lap 8 Romain Grosjean FRA Haas +1 lap 9 Sergio Perez MEX Force India +1 lap 10 Jenson Button GBR McLaren +1 lap 11 Daniel Ricciardo AUS Red Bull +1 lap 12 Carlos Sainz ESP Toro Rosso +1 lap 13 Jolyon Palmer GBR Renault +1 lap 14 Marcus Ericsson SWE Sauber +1 lap 15 Daniil Kvyat RUS Red Bull +1 lap 16 Felipe Nasr BRA Sauber +1 lap 17 Esteban Gutierrez MEX Haas +1 lap 18 Pascal Wehrlein GER Manor +2 laps NC Max Verstappen NED Toro Rosso DNF NC Sebastian Vettel GER Ferrari DNF NC Nico Hulkenberg GER Force India DNF NC Rio Haryanto INA Manor DNF
