Verstappen Credits First-Lap Move for Spanish GP Victory, Eyes Performance Boost
In an exclusive interview with Sky F1, Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen attributed his Spanish GP victory to a daring first-lap move that propelled him into the lead. The Red Bull Racing driver expertly navigated his way down the inside of polesitter Lando Norris, paving the way for his 61st Formula 1 win.
Verstappen’s bold maneuver into Turn 1 saw him momentarily lose momentum due to a wheel on the grass, but he regrouped to claim second place behind leader George Russell. However, it was his swift clearance of Russell on the second lap, courtesy of a tow on the exit of Turn 14 and DRS, that gave him the edge.
Verstappen asserted that taking the lead on lap two and getting ahead of Norris was the key to his success, allowing him to control the race and manage the gap to his rivals. “I think what made my race was getting the lead in lap two and basically getting also ahead of Lando,” Verstappen explained. “That’s where I basically won the race with the gap that I have to Lando.”
The Dutch driver acknowledged that McLaren’s pace, particularly on tyres, was a concern for Red Bull, but praised his team’s operational excellence. Despite feeling that he maximized his car’s potential, Verstappen conceded that he wants more performance from his machine.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner echoed Verstappen’s sentiments, praising his driver’s decisiveness in the early laps. Horner believed that Red Bull had the edge over McLaren, even with the tyre offset that the Woking squad had exploited.
“[Verstappen is] so decisive, you see him, he just doesn’t mess about,” Horner commented. “He’s coming up to traffic, he’s so, so decisive. And I think that’s one of his key qualities, that you know if he’s there, he’s going to go for it.”
With the Formula 1 season heating up, Verstappen’s victory in Spain has propelled him up the Formula 1 standings. Stay tuned for the latest Formula 1 news, Formula 1 today, and Formula 1 qualifying updates as the championship battle intensifies.
🔗 Source