As the Australian Grand Prix unfolds this Sunday, Max Verstappen has admitted that he is still not in top form, following stomach ailments and respiratory issues that have been troubling him for more than two weeks.
On the occasion of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix two weeks ago, Max Verstappen had zapped (with the agreement of the International Federation) Thursday devoted to the media, because he had stayed an extra day at home in mainly due to stomach aches. He then finished second in the race, behind his teammate Sergio Perez. This Thursday, the Dutch driver was present in Melbourne for the media day on D-3 of the Australian Grand Prix, but he confided that he was still not cured, and that he was impatiently awaiting the break four weeks (linked to the cancellation of the Chinese Grand Prix due to the coronavirus pandemic) before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on April 30: “At first I wasn’t looking forward to the break, but I really fell sick and I’ve had a bit of trouble since, especially the last race, so I think for me now, these three weeks will just allow me to get back to full fitness, do a full program. »
Verstappen: “This weekend should be fine”
The double world champion also looked back on his Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia, confident that he had suffered from respiratory problems:
“At home, I was really, really sick and I could barely walk. When I arrived in Jeddah, I thought that was behind me, because normally when you get sick, two or three days later, you are fine… But as soon as I got in the car for the first session of free practice, after just one lap I felt like I needed two laps just to be able to breathe normally. (…) I felt like I was missing a lung. It was one of the first races where I felt like I was physically limited, and it’s really frustrating when you’re in the car, but since then I’ve been trying to work on it, and I think it’s gotten a lot better, so… this weekend should be fine. “What to aim for the first victory of his career on the Melbourne circuit? We will already know a little more on Friday, with the first two free practice sessions.
