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Verstappen says he was ‘praying’ in Monaco near-miss

Max Verstappen said he was “praying” to avoid a crash after an engine failure left his Red Bull stranded at the start of the Monaco Grand Prix.

Aksel Kryhlmand

·

June 8, 2026

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Max Verstappen has described the alarming opening moments of the Monaco Grand Prix, after an engine failure left his Red Bull stranded on the grid and exposed to the cars launching from behind.

The Dutchman, who had started from second place, said the problem had already made itself felt on the formation lap. But the situation became critical when the lights went out and his car failed to get away properly.

According to RacingNews365, Verstappen said the car had felt unusual before the start, even though the pre-start procedure initially appeared normal.

“The formation lap already felt a bit off, but on the pre-start it was completely normal,” Verstappen said. “I found the RPM target, but it wasn’t going at all.”

Engine failure leaves Verstappen exposed

As the race began, Verstappen’s engine bogged down after he dropped the clutch, leaving him almost stationary as the rest of the field accelerated around him.

On a circuit as narrow as Monaco, the moment carried obvious danger. Verstappen said he had no meaningful power and could only try to guide the car out of the path of those behind him.

“I had no power, so I was steering left with the friction of the wheels,” he said. “I was just praying that everyone would go to the right.”

The Red Bull was not hit, allowing Verstappen to avoid what could have become a major first-lap collision. He briefly recovered some power after Turn 1, but the problem was terminal. He returned to the pits and retired at the end of the opening lap.

The impact of the retirement

Although the retirement was a bitter setback for Red Bull, Verstappen said the damage was easier to accept because of his position in the championship.

“If I were leading the championship, then of course it would be a very painful one,” he said. “Like this, it is less painful, but still really annoying and disappointing for everyone.”

The incident was a rare early exit for Verstappen and a reminder of how quickly a Formula 1 race can unravel, even for one of the sport’s most accomplished drivers.

Sources: RacingNews365