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Verstappen: Red Bull exceeded expectations

Published on 12 Nov 2018 10:08
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By: Fergal Walsh

Max Verstappen says that Red Bull beat its expectations at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday. The energy drink squad was not believed to be in contention for the race win, but it became clear after the opening sequence of laps that it had a real chance.

Verstappen made his way from fifth into second after passing the two Ferraris and the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas. He then went in chase of race leader Lewis Hamilton, and managed to overtake him after emerging from the pits on much fresher and softer tyres.

"The car felt amazing all race, even with a damaged floor towards the end,” said Verstappen. “The set-up, balance and strategy were perfect. To be this competitive at a track we didn’t expect to be is really positive, and makes me look forward to Abu Dhabi. We have come away with a P2, which should have been a win. This shows we were performing really well, beyond expectations.”

Verstappen's damaged floor came about after contact with Esteban Ocon, which gifted the lead and ultimately the win to Hamilton. Verstappen managed to close down the gap by over four seconds in the last handful of laps, but couldn't re-take the lead.

“You know all the cut-outs you have on the side of the floor, that whole area, so I guess that’s this wide [gestures a gap of about 15-20cm] that was completely gone so it was pretty bad," he said. "I lost a lot of downforce. I had to lock a lot of tools on the steering wheel but that was still not enough. But still the car was quick. We could have been much faster, for sure.”

talktohenry

Posts: 362

Ocon is the biggest idiot ever, never seem such a selfish thing to do to take out the leader, then deny it was his fault because he wanted to unlap himself. Max well in his rights to do what he did after. Ocon should get 3 race ban for such a major pointless mistake which ruined the race.

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Nov 12 2018 - 10:25

F1 News Max Verstappen Valtteri Bottas Lewis Hamilton Esteban Ocon Mercedes

Replies (3)

talktohenry

Posts: 362
Ocon is the biggest idiot ever, never seem such a selfish thing to do to take out the leader, then deny it was his fault because he wanted to unlap himself. Max well in his rights to do what he did after. Ocon should get 3 race ban for such a major pointless mistake which ruined the race.
- + 1
- Nov 12 2018 - 10:25
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Nah, Ocon's move was a load of toss, but so was Max' reaction. This is one time in which I woulda preferred Hammy level trash talk over a catfight.
  + 0
  
  Nov 12 2018 - 17:58
sadosalo

Posts: 198
Why did Hamilton defend the action from Ocon after the race in the cool down area, please Lewis to poor more injury onto Max after he lost he race?
And the constant smiling Ocon direction Max was irritating at the weight in, not sportsman like, just sorry would make the difference in most people book, it says something about his lack of character
Ocon has been in a lot of nasty unnecessary scraps with Gasly, LeClerc and Perez over the year, i quess its time for E series.
- + 0
- Nov 12 2018 - 17:55