Max Verstappen calls for investigation of "turtle" Aston Martin safety car

Aston Martin safety car in the Australian GP — Photo: © LAT Images

Australian Grand Prix

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Verstappen calls for investigation of "turtle" Aston Martin safety car

There were two safety car periods in the Australian Grand Prix

Ian Parkes

Monday 11 April 2022 11:15 Updated: 12:04

Max Verstappen has called on the FIA to investigate its use of the Aston Martin safety car after describing it as 'slow as a turtle' during Sunday's Australian Grand Prix.

The Vantage was deployed for the first time this season at Melbourne's Albert Park after the use of the Mercedes GT Black Series in the first two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Verstappen has heavily criticised the Vantage following the two safety car periods in Australia after incidents involving Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel.

Verstappen, who was forced to retire his Red Bull for the second time this year, said: “The safety car was driving so slow. It was like a turtle. Unbelievable!

"With that car, to drive 140 [kph] on the back straight, where there’s not a damaged car anymore, I don’t understand why we have to drive so slow."

Mercedes "five seconds quicker" - Russell

Verstappen, running second behind eventual race winner in Ferrari's Charles Leclerc on the two occasions the safety car was required, added: “We have to investigate. For sure, the Mercedes safety car is faster because of the extra aero.

"The Aston Martin is really slow. It definitely needs more grip because our tyres were stone cold.

“We went into the last corner, I could see Charles [Leclerc] understeering. So I’m like ‘Okay, I’ll back off a bit more’ and I had a better line. It’s pretty terrible, the way we’re driving behind the safety car at the moment.”

Mercedes' George Russell, who finished third, initially joked: "We don't have the issue with the Mercedes safety car."

Russell then added: "On a serious note, the Mercedes is like five seconds quicker than the Aston Martin safety car, which is pretty substantial."