Max Verstappen took a big step towards his fourth Formula 1 world title in Brazil. On a day that started dramatically for Red Bull with a double elimination in Q2 due to a red flag, he then drove from 15th position to victory.
Because of this, it turned out to be an important day at the world championship. With a 62-point advantage, the driver from the Netherlands could even secure the title in Las Vegas. If you have a sixty or more point lead over Lando Norris after the race in the Sin Citythe fight for the title will be doomed.
“It’s been a crazy day. After qualifying, I almost demolished the entire garage and then we won the race from P17 (he advanced to 15th on the grid due to the retirement of Alex Albon and the departure of Carlos Sainz from the pitlane).” Verstappen began his story at the press conference with laughter.
“There was actually only one line you could take and therefore I knew that overtaking could be difficult, but the start we had helped a lot. After that I also had a good first lap,” noted Verstappen.
“After that, I got a little stuck on the train behind Yuki (Tsunoda), but we stayed calm. We made the right decisions by staying on the outside, although it was very treacherous at the time. I saw Esteban (Ocon) fly away and suddenly going four seconds faster, but I thought ‘I’m already happy to keep the car on the track!’ Then of course the red flag came and I think it was almost impossible to drive, even with wet tyres. , with the banking of this track. It was like being on a boat or maybe on a jet ski,” joked the championship leader.
The reunion with victory
Verstappen said he did not go into the race with specific goals, but rather with a determination to bounce back after this morning’s events.
“I was hugely motivated to have a good race and see what was possible. In a rainy race, you know crazy things can always happen. Every time I passed someone and had a lap or two of free air, I was immediately the fastest on the track. As a result, I knew the speed was already there. I felt comfortable in the car and I also felt comfortable in the rain, so that made it double.”
For Verstappen, the victory in San Pablo is his first victory since the Spanish Grand Prix, the first in 10 Grand Prix.
“Of course I would have preferred the victory to have come sooner!” said Verstappen. “It’s been a tough time for us. We didn’t really understand why everyone else was so fast in the races and we did a lot to make our own car faster. Of course, starting from P17 this morning, it didn’t look like we were going to win. “But this is an incredible result and a great boost for the team. To be honest, it has been quite difficult, but it is also precisely a strong point of this team to stay calm and try to improve our situation again.”
“Don’t you know where the press conference room is?”
Towards the end of the press conference, Verstappen took the microphone and suddenly turns the tables: this time he asks a question instead of all the journalists in the room.
“I have a quick question too,” Verstappen began. “I appreciate that everyone is here, but I don’t see any British journalists sitting here. Do they have to run to the airport or something like that? Or maybe they don’t know where the press conference room is,” Verstappen launched after the criticism received in the British media. after the Mexican Grand Prix.
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