Max Verstappen: Toro Rosso's Renault F1 engine 'bit of a nightmare'
Max Verstappen has described Toro Rosso's Renault engine as "a bit of a nightmare" that could jeopardise the team's goal of fifth in the 2015 Formula 1 constructors' championship
Verstappen has now retired from three of his first four grands prix with mechanical problems.
At its launch, Toro Rosso declared fifth in the standings was a realistic ambition for this season. It is currently joint sixth with Lotus, with Force India a point behind.
"I think the car is capable of [fifth], it is just the thing behind the car which is a bit of a nightmare," Verstappen told AUTOSPORT.
"I'm not going to lie about that, I think everybody can see that.
"You could see that with [Daniel] Ricciardo, he made some fireworks at the finish [when his engine failed]."
Verstappen had struggled to make progress from 15th on the grid in Bahrain as suspected electrical problems forced him to run with reduced power.
The 17-year-old retired the car after 34 laps for fear of losing the engine.
A week earlier, he had lost a points finish with four laps to go in China when his Renault power unit failed.
"The whole race I was already having problems with the engine," Verstappen said of his Sakhir experience.
"After the first pitstop, I had to go into safe mode. I had no power basically.
"I was losing a lot of power on the straights.
"It was just a mess. I was like a sitting duck to everyone.
"At one point I was driving alone waiting to get lapped."
V8 engines should remain in F1's past
Sebastian Vettel: Ferrari needs 'a while' to catch Mercedes F1 team
The supercharged Revolution that has piqued an Olympic legend's motorsport taste
The supercharged Revolution that has piqued an Olympic legend's motorsport taste The supercharged Revolution that has piqued an Olympic legend's motorsport taste
How Radical revamped its record-breaking flagship model
How Radical revamped its record-breaking flagship model How Radical revamped its record-breaking flagship model
Inside the lightweight Czech sportscar making its mark on the UK
Inside the lightweight Czech sportscar making its mark on the UK Inside the lightweight Czech sportscar making its mark on the UK
Top 10 Minardi F1 drivers ranked: Alonso, Webber, Badoer and more
Top 10 Minardi F1 drivers ranked: Alonso, Webber, Badoer and more Top 10 Minardi F1 drivers ranked: Alonso, Webber, Badoer and more
Jos Verstappen on WRC Ypres debut: "Max thinks I'm crazy"
Jos Verstappen on WRC Ypres debut: "Max thinks I'm crazy" Jos Verstappen on WRC Ypres debut: "Max thinks I'm crazy"
Why Verstappen isn't interested in hyping up Red Bull
Why Verstappen isn't interested in hyping up Red Bull Why Verstappen isn't interested in hyping up Red Bull
The hidden hero behind Alonso’s Enstone F1 glory years
The hidden hero behind Alonso’s Enstone F1 glory years The hidden hero behind Alonso’s Enstone F1 glory years
Renault: Engine freeze allows 2023 ideas to be fast-tracked
Renault: Engine freeze allows 2023 ideas to be fast-tracked Renault: Engine freeze allows 2023 ideas to be fast-tracked
Why Renault's survivor wasn't part of Alpine's plans
Why Renault's survivor wasn't part of Alpine's plans Why Renault's survivor wasn't part of Alpine's plans
F1 Australian GP: Verstappen beats Hamilton before farcical restart concludes race
F1 Australian GP: Verstappen beats Hamilton before farcical restart concludes race F1 Australian GP: Verstappen beats Hamilton before farcical restart concludes race
F1 race results: Max Verstappen wins wild Australian GP
F1 race results: Max Verstappen wins wild Australian GP F1 race results: Max Verstappen wins wild Australian GP
F1 Australian GP red-flagged for second time after Magnussen incident
F1 Australian GP red-flagged for second time after Magnussen incident F1 Australian GP red-flagged for second time after Magnussen incident
F1 teams agree to pursue standalone sprint format for Baku
F1 teams agree to pursue standalone sprint format for Baku F1 teams agree to pursue standalone sprint format for Baku
How F1's new era has exposed the downside of its most important rule
How F1's new era has exposed the downside of its most important rule How F1's new era has exposed the downside of its most important rule
What next for Mercedes in its quest to get back to the top of F1?
What next for Mercedes in its quest to get back to the top of F1? What next for Mercedes in its quest to get back to the top of F1?
Why Piastri’s F1 homecoming will be a landmark occasion
Why Piastri’s F1 homecoming will be a landmark occasion Why Piastri’s F1 homecoming will be a landmark occasion
The recent Australian GP form history that will boost Ferrari in F1 2023
The recent Australian GP form history that will boost Ferrari in F1 2023 The recent Australian GP form history that will boost Ferrari in F1 2023
The cycle of F1 upheaval Williams must end to rediscover past glories
The cycle of F1 upheaval Williams must end to rediscover past glories The cycle of F1 upheaval Williams must end to rediscover past glories
The state of play in F1's technical silly season
The state of play in F1's technical silly season The state of play in F1's technical silly season
Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers
Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers Ranking the top 10 pre-war grand prix drivers
Why drivers are the least of Ferrari’s F1 worries
Why drivers are the least of Ferrari’s F1 worries Why drivers are the least of Ferrari’s F1 worries
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.