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Filip Cleeren

Max Verstappen reveals cause of shock Monaco GP retirement: "Engine just dropped dead"

Max Verstappen Monaco Red Bull Mercedes Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen says his Red Bull's engine "just dropped dead" at the start of the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix as the Dutchman faced an early retirement.

Verstappen and Red Bull defied expectations by challenging for pole at the Monaco street circuit, with the four-time world champion defeating both Ferrari drivers before being pipped to pole by Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.

But the Dutchman's Sunday afternoon was short-lived as he stalled at the start, swerving out of the way to avoid being collected by the chasing peloton. "Yep, nice. Completely ****. Guys, what the **** man?", a frustrated Verstappen said on the radio.

After getting going again, Verstappen was forced to bring his Red Bull back to the garage for a lap 1 retirement.

Explaining his woes after the race, Verstappen said he already faced engine concerns on the formation lap, so his stalled start didn't come as a complete shock.

"Already the formation lap was not going very well and then after that the pre-start was terrible," Verstappen reported to Sky Sports F1. "There was just no consistency and then the engine just dropped dead. I only got a little bit of power back after the first corner and then the engine sounded really awful. I could not go full throttle, so we brought it back and that was it."

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing (Photo by: Alex Bierens de Haan / LAT Images via Getty Images)

F1 heads across the border to Spain next week for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, which Verstappen believes will be a much better test of Red Bull's upgrade progress in recent weeks.

"It's a completely different track so it will be a good test to see if we actually really made a proper step forward or not because that's all about high speed and aero performance," he added. "So, that will be an interesting weekend."

Photos from Monaco GP - Sunday

61 Formula 1 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing, Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, crosses the finish line to win the Monaco Grand Prix.

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Lando Norris, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 George Russell, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 An official signals 5 minutes left until the restart in the pit lane.

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 The track is swept during a red flag delay.

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Marshals clear the track under the red flag.

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team, Carlos Sainz, Williams

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Lando Norris, McLaren, Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Alexander Albon, Williams, Carlos Sainz, Williams

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Audi F1 Team pit stop practice.

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Lando Norris, McLaren

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Mohammed ben Sulayem, FIA President, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Charlene of Monaco, and Stefano Domenicali, CEO, Formula One Group.

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian in the paddock with Silvia Domenicali and Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula One Group.

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian on the grid.

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian on the grid.

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Yachts in the harbour.

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Sir Jackie Stewart and Jacky Ickx.

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Mika Hakkinen

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Tion Wayne

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Allan McNish, Racing Director of Audi F1 Team talks to Donald Trump Jr and his wife Bettina Anderson

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 George Russell, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Benedetto Vigna, CEO of Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Isabella Bernardini

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Fisher in the Paddock

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Lily Rowland

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Jackie Stewart

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday

 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Monaco Grand Prix - Sunday
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