Max Verstappen says his Crimson Bull Racing automobile is performing higher than it has all season after profitable back-to-back grands prix for the primary time since final June.
Verstappen managed the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, main each lap from pole and setting the quickest lap for his sixth profession grand slam. He’s solely the second driver to win the Baku race greater than as soon as, following former teammate Sergio Perez.
The victory follows a equally dominant win in Italy two weeks in the past, the place he claimed victory by the most important margin of the season. Requested whether or not this was one of the best his RB21 had felt this yr, having claimed his sixth pole on path to his fourth victory, the Dutchman replied within the affirmative.
“Along with Monza, yep,” he stated. “Monza has by no means actually been a very sturdy monitor for us, so to do this, that was already a giant plus.
“For me right here in Baku, it’s been all proper however by no means wonderful, aside from possibly 2021 and 2022, however the remaining has at all times been a bit troublesome. So to have a weekend like this, it was crucial.”
- RACE REPORT: Verstappen reigns supreme in Baku
It wasn’t simply concerning the consequence for the reigning champion; it was additionally about the way in which he was capable of construct as much as Sunday after which run what he described as a “fairly simple” race.
“Total only a nice weekend for us,” he stated. “I’m very proud of how the race was going – I imply, I might go very lengthy in that first stint. The automobile was doing just about what I needed it to do.
“We simply stayed out till mainly everybody pitted, after which there have been just a few laps left on the medium, clearing a number of backmarkers, which took a little bit of time. However after that, simply bringing it residence.
“For us that’s one other simply nice consequence. A bit uncommon – this season has been actually swinging left and proper, however a minimum of now two weekends in a row, it’s been going rather well.”
Two races is sufficient of a pattern for McLaren boss Andrea Stella, who suspects the improve delivered to the Crimson Bull Racing automobile in Italy has reset the pecking order and made Verstappen a daily victory contender once more.
Baku and Monza are two of essentially the most excessive circuits on the calendar. Each are dominated by lengthy straights, although their nook profiles are completely different. Verstappen cautioned {that a} bigger pattern measurement was wanted earlier than drawing conclusions on Crimson Bull Racing’s resurgence.
“It’s troublesome to say in the intervening time,” he stated. “However for positive the final two race weekends have been wonderful for us. Singapore [the next race] is a totally completely different problem once more with the excessive downforce, so we’ll see what we will do there.”
However the Dutchman gave shorter shrift to the concept his lowered 69-point deficit to title chief Oscar Piastri made him a championship contender once more.
“I don’t depend on hope,” he stated. “But it surely’s seven rounds left. Sixty-nine factors is quite a bit, so I personally don’t give it some thought.
“I simply go race by race, what I’ve been doing mainly the entire season, simply making an attempt to do one of the best we will, attempt to rating essentially the most factors that we will, after which after Abu Dhabi we’ll know.”
