Max Verstappen says he needed to drive a defensive race regardless of an aggressive technique to be able to forestall Mercedes securing a one-two end within the Canadian Grand Prix.
George Russell led from pole place and got here underneath strain from Verstappen within the early part of the race, however then the Dutchman dropped away and was within the means of being overtaken by Kimi Antonelli when he made his first pit cease. In the course of the second pit cease part, Verstappen additionally had Antonelli alongside him at pit exit, however Verstappen saved forward after each stops, preserving him forward and he feels second place was the utmost attainable end result.
“It was fairly an excellent race although I feel the 2 stints we had been struggling fairly a bit on the tires,” Verstappen stated. “So we had been doing fairly an aggressive technique, however fortunately in that remaining stint, we managed to hold in there and truly the tempo was a bit higher on the bit decrease gas load. In order that was good.
“I feel we drove an attacking/defending race – attacking with a method, defending after all with the vehicles behind. Nevertheless it labored out for us and I feel that was the utmost attainable for us.
“The primary two stints, I used to be struggling loads with the tires. Simply an excessive amount of degradation once more. So we drove fairly a defensive race, to be trustworthy, as a result of principally two instances, Kimi was about to overhaul me, and we boxed. In order that labored out fairly effectively for me.
“We did a really aggressive technique. I feel the final pit cease, I used to be a bit fearful if I used to be going to make it to the top competitively as a result of on the laborious tire within the second stint, I used to be already struggling as effectively. So I feel only a lighter gas load helped a bit. However the hole wasn’t that huge in direction of George, and I by no means actually felt like I had the tempo to do something.
“It was extra about simply trying within the mirror, attempting to keep up that hole, attempt to take care of my tires to not overstress them. It was not the best race, however I feel as a crew we managed it effectively.
“I feel we undoubtedly optimized every part we may as a result of, actually, all through the entire race, I by no means actually felt like I used to be truly holding on to second. So, we did an excellent job. I imply, the entire weekend, I feel the automobile was cheap. Technique-wise, we did the very best we may.”
Verstappen was nonetheless in a position to take factors out of the highest two within the championship with Oscar Piastri ending fourth and Lando Norris retiring, however he believes Pink Bull must improve its automobile to outscore McLaren repeatedly.
“I hope that we will begin each weekend like this when it comes to how I really feel with the automobile, however total, we do want extra efficiency to be fast all over the place. I additionally suppose that this weekend was a bit, I will not say an off weekend, however McLaren wasn’t as sturdy as regular. And, after all, we benefited a little bit bit.
“But when we go to all the opposite tracks now arising, we undoubtedly want extra efficiency to even be near them. This has been an excellent weekend for us, however we’d like much more to have the ability to combat with them for the entire season.”
