System One world champion Nico Rosberg has slammed Max Verstappen’s feedback after he completed second within the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The Solar reviews the Dutchman kicked off the 2023 season in very good type with a convincing victory in Bahrain.
However mechanical issues on Saturday then noticed him qualify fifteenth for the race in Jeddah.
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And whereas he comfortably recovered to maneuver into second place, Purple Bull teammate Sergio Perez claimed his first win of the yr forward of the reigning world champion.
After the race, Verstappen mentioned: “I recovered to second which is nice and basically the entire feeling within the staff is blissful.
“However personally I’m not blissful. I’m not right here to be second, particularly if you end up working very laborious again on the manufacturing unit to return right here in an excellent state and ensuring the whole lot is spot on.”
He then went on so as to add: “When you’re combating for a championship and it appears like it’s simply between two automobiles (Verstappen and Perez) you need to make sure that the 2 automobiles are dependable.
“Now we have to do higher, completely — a cleaner weekend can be good.”
Rosberg, who twice misplaced out to Lewis Hamilton within the 2014 and 2015 championships earlier than getting the higher of him in 2016, was left unimpressed by Verstappen’s feedback.
Talking on Sky Sports activities, the ex-Mercedes star mentioned: “It’s not good to see.
“We have been additionally instructed he skipped the staff assembly (after qualifying) apparently.
“I don’t assume it’s an excellent strategy or mentality so early within the season when the staff has achieved such a superb job and labored so laborious. I feel he might be extra gracious.”
Verstappen’s father Jos additionally raised eyebrows when he fully snubbed Perez after his victory when he was being mobbed by Purple Bull’s crew within the pit lane.
Verstappen wasn’t blissful about ending second, whereas Perez was fuming along with his personal staff with the communication that was being given to him throughout the latter levels of the race as Verstappen pinched the quickest lap on the ultimate lap of the race.
With solely the 2 Purple Bulls seemingly in rivalry for the championship, some pundits imagine the simmering rigidity between Verstappen and Perez might boil over this season.
Verstappen leads Perez by one level within the drivers’ championship heading into the third race of the season in Australia after ensuring to attain the additional level for the quickest lap in Saudi Arabia.
This text initially appeared in The Solar and was reproduced with permission.
