Max Verstappen believes a failed try and make it to the top of the Australian Grand Prix on slick tires was nonetheless a threat price taking as he was set to complete second regardless.
A late burst of rain led to the 2 main McLaren drivers slide off the observe within the ultimate sector, with Oscar Piastri caught on the grass for practically a whole lap. Lando Norris was in a position to rejoin shortly and enter the pits, however Verstappen stayed out on slicks to guide for 2 laps earlier than additionally stopping and dropping again behind the McLaren.
“We had been on the medium (tire), and also you by no means know the way that’s going to work out, however I believed it was fairly a smart name with 15, 16, or 20 laps to go when the protection automobile got here out,” Verstappen mentioned. “Then it began to rain. I noticed them go off in entrance of me, stored it clear, and once I noticed Oscar rejoining, I believed, ‘Properly, let’s keep out,’ as a result of it was solely these three corners. The remaining was nonetheless dry.
“Once I continued, mainly, the primary two sectors had been high quality – it was simply if I may survive the ultimate sector. I believe that lap I did was okay. If there wasn’t far more rain coming, I believed it may work. You additionally need to think about that even when they caught me on an inter, they’d need to field once more for slicks, if it’s not going to rain anymore. So, it was high quality.
“I believed, ‘Yeah, we’ll do one other lap,’ however then, sadly, on that lap, the primary sector was nonetheless okay-ish, however then in Sector 2, it began to rain a bit an excessive amount of and we needed to field.
“However in hindsight, it wouldn’t have mattered. If I’d boxed with Lando, it could have been P2. If I’d boxed the following lap, it could have been P2. And the lap that I did field, I used to be additionally P2. So, we tried one thing else – it might need labored. In a method, it didn’t work, however we didn’t lose any place, so it’s high quality.”
After pitting for intermediates, Verstappen pushed Norris all the best way to the flag after one other late security automobile, however he says he by no means felt he may make a transfer and continues to be cautious of the efficiency benefit McLaren confirmed earlier within the race.
“I believe it’s good in comparison with the groups behind us. However if you happen to take a look at the primary stint, we had been fairly a bit off. As quickly because the tires began to overheat, we had no probability. McLaren simply took off.
“So, we nonetheless have lots of work to do to combat for a win. However I’m completely happy that we’re second right here. It’s mainly one place higher than we should always have been. And it’s 18 extra factors than I had final 12 months at this race.”
