Max Verstappen was left furious after a fuel miscalculation by Red Bull cost him dearly during qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix.
The reigning world champion’s chances of wrapping up a second consecutive Formula One title with five races still to go in 2022 at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on Sunday now look very slim indeed after he was consigned to eighth spot on the starting grid.
That is despite Verstappen appearing on pace to claim another pole position during an eventful Q3 on Saturday, only to be told to abandon his blistering final lap due to an inexplicable lack of fuel.
“What the f***?” Verstappen fumed over team radio to race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase. “What the f***? What the f*** are you guys saying? It is unbelievable, mate. I don’t get it. What the f*** is this about?”
Verstappen can still seal his latest championship success tomorrow, but would need to rise from P8 to win the race with the fastest lap and hope that team-mate Sergio Perez finishes fourth or lower from P2, with polesitter Leclerc also eighth or lower.
“It’s just incredibly frustrating and shouldn’t happen,” Verstappen told Sky Sports of the fuel error. “I am not happy at all at the moment.
“I know it’s always a team effort, and I can make mistakes and the team can make mistakes, but it’s never acceptable. Of course, you learn from it, but this is really bad for us.”
