Felt like I was missing a lung – Verstappen still not fully fit

Felt like I was missing a lung – Verstappen still not fully fit

Formula One world champion Max Verstappen mentioned he felt like he was racing with one lung in Saudi Arabia and continues to be not match-fit for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix.

Verstappen delayed his arrival on the final spherical in Jeddah a fortnight in the past by 24 hours as he battled a virus. He completed second behind Sergio Perez.

The Dutchman holds a slender one-point championship lead over his Red Bull team-mate forward of the third race in Melbourne, and is planning to make use of the three-week break between the races right here at Melbourne’s Albert Park and Azerbaijan on April 30 to return to good well being.

“I was not looking forward to the break but then I got really ill and I have just been struggling since that time,” mentioned Verstappen, 25.

“I refused to believe in myself for a long time because, at home, I was really ill. I could barely walk around and I felt like I was missing a lot.

“I bought to Saudi Arabia believing that the virus was gone as a result of usually if you get sick, after two or three days you might be alright and you are able to do your exercises.

“But then I jumped into the car for practice, and even after just one lap, I felt like I had to recover for two laps to be able to breathe normally. It felt like I was missing a lung.”

Verstappen broke down with a mechanical failure in qualifying in Saudi Arabia, earlier than carving his method by the sector from fifteenth.

He continued: “It definitely did affect me, which I didn’t like because it was one of the first races where I felt like I was physically limited.

“That’s actually irritating if you’re out within the automotive, however since then I’ve been attempting to work on it, attempting to enhance it, and it has improved quite a bit.

“But for me now these next three weeks are just about getting back to full fitness. Hopefully for the rest of the year it should be okay.”

Source: www.anews.com.tr