“Max was just faster,” the Briton realized. “I couldn’t do much about the lap times, it was already difficult to keep up with his track. We needed everything to have even a small chance of winning, but it was not possible.”
Despite his tenth pole position, Verstappen did not count himself rich. Overtaking on the narrow track would be difficult and both he and Hamilton predicted a tactical battle between the teams. And between the drivers: who would best control their tires?
‘Last lap was the best for me’
Hamilton managed to keep the difference small, but in the closing laps the team leadership of Mercedes knew that the win was no longer possible. Hamilton was brought in for an extra pit stop.
The World Cup point that was at stake was thus won. “The last lap was the best of the race for me.”
Team boss Toto Wolff: “We lost this race on Friday and Saturday. Lewis’ technical problem in the second free practice in particular killed us, you can’t just catch up with that. And pole position is almost a guarantee of victory.”
View the development in the battle between Verstappen and Hamilton and the top five of the World Cup standings in the carousel below:
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