Reigning world champion Max Verstappen was clearly “not happy” to have claimed second at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, despite the fact the Dutchman recovered from 15th on the grid following a sudden driveshaft failure during qualifying.
The Red Bull driver’s mood was evident once the race had concluded, with 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg having admitted that Verstappen’s attitude was “not good to see”.
Verstappen drove superbly throughout the race and breezed through the field, to the point where he found himself in second by the halfway point of the race.
Team-mate Sergio Pérez was simply too fast for the Dutchman, though, with the gap having remained between five and six seconds from the moment Verstappen moved into P2.
READ: Developer of viral app admits they could face Formula 1 lawsuit
Verstappen also went against Red Bull’s wishes on the final lap by opting to set the fastest lap, something he’d been told by the team wasn’t something to be concerned about.
By setting the fastest lap, Verstappen remains in the lead of the championship by one point.
Pérez had held the fastest lap until Verstappen defied Red Bull, something which resulted in an awkward conversation between the duo in the cooldown room.
Verstappen’s displeasure at finishing second boiled over into his interviews after the race, where he called for Red Bull to “do better” and make both cars “reliable”.
“I recovered to second which is good and in general the whole feeling in the team is happy,” Verstappen said after the race, as reported by Sky Sports F1.
“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.”
READ: Eddie Jordan demands rule change after Esteban Ocon nightmare
Rosberg wasn’t a fan of Verstappen’s attitude after the race and revealed that the Dutchman “apparently” refused to attend a team meeting after qualifying, due to his frustration at having suffered a driveshaft failure at a time when he was favourite for pole.
“It is not good to see. We were also told he skipped the team meeting [on Saturday] apparently,” Rosberg told Sky Sports F1.
“I don’t think it’s a good approach or mentality so early in the season when the team has done such a brilliant job and worked so hard. I think he could be more gracious.”