Verstappen ‘not interested’ in Ferrari F1 engine row
Max Verstappen insists he is “not very interested” in getting involved in the debate over Ferrari’s use of its engine during the 2019 Formula 1 season.
How Ferrari operated its 2019 power unit has become the topic of controversy in recent weeks after the FIA reached a private settlement with the Scuderia after being unable to find sufficient evidence to back up its suspicions that the team was doing something untoward.
Max Verstappen insists he is “not very interested” in getting involved in the debate over Ferrari’s use of its engine during the 2019 Formula 1 season.
How Ferrari operated its 2019 power unit has become the topic of controversy in recent weeks after the FIA reached a private settlement with the Scuderia after being unable to find sufficient evidence to back up its suspicions that the team was doing something untoward.
The FIA’s stance angered the Italian outfit’s rivals, with the seven non Ferrari-powered teams coming together in a joint statement to demand full disclosure on the matter. It is understood that Mercedes has since backed away from its involvement in the row.
Asked about the matter during Thursday’s media day at the Australian Grand Prix, Verstappen replied: “I’m not very interested in it myself. I leave it up to the teams to handle that.”
At least year’s United States Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver suggested to Dutch TV broadcasters that Ferrari’s sudden lack of performance at Austin could be explained by a technical directive relating to fuel flow which was issued on the eve of the weekend.
Despite raising initial suspicions, Verstappen said he does not feel like he has now been proven right, adding he would “prefer to leave it up to the teams” and did not want to "go back in time about those things.”
Verstappen also gave his view on the coronavirus pandemic that ultimately resulted in the Australian Grand Prix being cancelled, as well as subsequent races in Bahrain, China and Vietnam being postponed.
“It’s of course not great with what is happening at the moment,” he explained.
“You just try to follow the guidelines. I’m not a doctor so I don’t really know how to handle that stuff so I just follow what people are telling me and I think that’s the best we can do at the moment.
"I personally just try not to think about it too much. Of course I’m hoping that everything will go through but it depends what governments are going to decide. We just have to wait for that.”
