“I feel better after having a stomach ache for a few days. Unfortunately, I had to delay my flight by one day, so I won’t be at the circuit before Friday,” the Dutchman wrote on social media.
Verstappen was to participate in a meeting with the press in Jeddah on Thursday, on the eve of the first two sessions of free rehearsals taking place on Friday.
“Max has had stomach problems in recent days and, with the approval of the FIA, he will not be in the paddock today (Thursday),” the Red Bull team wrote.
Max has been suffering from a stomach illness over the past few days and, with the agreement of the FIA, will not be present at track today. Feel better, Max. 🙏🦁 https://t.co/f7CMBgchZY
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing)
March 16, 2023
Verstappen was the winner two weeks ago in Bahrain of the first race of the 2023 Formula 1 season.
Red Bull triumphed at Sakhir earlier in the month, with Verstappen winning and second place for Mexican Sergio Pérez. His car seems a step above the rest and that seems key on the fast street circuit of Jeddah.
“I think nobody will be able to compete against them this season. I think they will win all the races this season,” George Russell (Mercedes) resigned himself after the Bahrain race.
“After a good start in Bahrain, I don’t think the task will be easy in Jeddah, which is a completely different circuit and where we will need the car to be fast,” said Dutchman Verstappen, the reigning double world champion.
Ferrari disappointed in the first race of the season, with a DNF for Charles Leclerc and fourth place for Carlos Sainz Jr.
The weekend does not look like the best of auspices for the ‘Scuderia’ as the Monegasque driver received a ten-position grid penalty after replacing an electronic component during the Bahrain Grand Prix.