F1 pundit issues misplaced Verstappen praise as Ocon critiqued after Qatar GP

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Gerhard Berger has given some misplaced praise for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen whilst questioning the Formula 1 drivers who felt unwell during an extreme Qatar Grand Prix.

Last Sunday saw several F1 drivers exit their cars feeling exhausted after racing in excessive heat almost flat-out throughout. Pirelli mandating 18-lap maximum stints for any set of tyres ensured the teams could push. But it, coupled with other aspects, put drivers at their limits.

Williams’ Logan Sargeant, ultimately, retired from the Qatar GP after suffering heatstroke as his condition worsened. The American had tried to push on after first reporting that he felt unwell to his team. But it proved too much for Sargeant, who is still fighting for his F1 career.

Berger questions the F1 drivers like Ocon who felt unwell at the Qatar GP

Lance Stroll even claimed after the Qatar GP that the Aston Martin driver felt faint at points of the race. While Alpine star Esteban Ocon admitted that he was sick inside his helmet after 15 of the 57 laps. The Frenchman also noted it was the first time he had ever felt such a way.

The lack of cool air into the cockpits, temperatures of 35°C and up to 74% humidity ensured several drivers struggled with the conditions for the Qatar GP. But Berger claims it was just a lack of fitness that caused the likes of Williams’ Alex Albon to struggle to get out of their car.

“I think it’s simply a question of fitness. If you’re really fit, you won’t get sick,” Berger claims, as quoted by Motorsport-Total. “It’s a fitness problem [and] it’s a circulatory issue. If you ask Verstappen, he didn’t get sick, not even in these temperatures.”

Berger’s praise for Verstappen is misplaced after his own admission

Yet despite Berger’s suggestions, Verstappen did admit right after the Qatar GP that the Red Bull felt somewhat unwell. The newly-crowned three-time Formula 1 driver’s champion also joined Oscar Piastri in lying on the floor in the cool-down room before going to the podium.

“It was definitely way too hot,” Verstappen said. “That has nothing to do with training. Some of the guys who had problems today are extremely fit, probably even fitter than me.”

Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg even called the conditions ‘really crazy’ and that ‘Singapore is a fart’ in comparison. He added: “I need three days in the ice bath to get to grips with everything.”

The FIA also vows to take action to prevent repeats of the conditions the drivers faced at the Qatar GP. A pre-planned change to host the race in December in 2024 will help. And Ocon is glad the race will enjoy cooler temperatures next year after a very uncomfortable Qatar GP.

“I’ve never had that in the past,” Ocon told Sky Sports of being sick inside his helmet. “I’ve always been able to do two race distances in the car, that’s what I’ve always been training for. But, today, it was just the hot air and how hot the engine is from behind the car.

“I don’t think we particularly sealed the cockpit too well. It must have been like 80° inside the car. I’m glad that next year we come back here in December.”