Max Verstappen says he needed to drive a defensive race regardless of an aggressive technique with a purpose to forestall Mercedes securing a one-two end within the Canadian Grand Prix.
George Russell led from pole place and got here below stress from Verstappen within the early part of the race, however then the Dutchman dropped away and was within the strategy of being overtaken by Kimi Antonelli when he made his first pit cease. Throughout the second pit cease part, Verstappen additionally had Antonelli alongside him at pit exit, however Verstappen stored forward after each stops, holding him forward and he feels second place was the utmost doable consequence.
“It was fairly an excellent race though I believe the 2 stints we have been struggling fairly a bit on the tires,” Verstappen stated. “So we have been doing fairly an aggressive technique, however fortunately in that last stint, we managed to hold in there and really the tempo was a bit higher on the bit decrease gasoline load. In order that was good.
“I believe we drove an attacking/defending race – attacking with a method, defending in fact with the automobiles behind. However it labored out for us and I believe that was the utmost doable for us.
“The primary two stints, I used to be struggling so much 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 mainly two occasions, Kimi was about to overhaul me, and we boxed. In order that labored out fairly nicely for me.
“We did a really aggressive technique. I believe the final pit cease, I used to be a bit anxious if I used to be going to make it to the top competitively as a result of on the exhausting tire within the second stint, I used to be already struggling as nicely. So I believe only a lighter gasoline load helped a bit. However the hole wasn’t that massive in direction of George, and I by no means actually felt like I had the tempo to do something.
“It was extra about simply wanting within the mirror, making an attempt to take care of that hole, attempt to take care of my tires to not overstress them. It was not the best race, however I believe as a staff we managed it nicely.
“I believe we undoubtedly optimized all the things 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 believe the automotive was cheap. Technique-wise, we did one of the 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 automotive to outscore McLaren often.
“I hope that we will begin each weekend like this by way of how I really feel with the automotive, however total, we do want extra efficiency to be fast in all places. 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, in fact, we benefited a bit of bit.
“But when we go to all the opposite tracks now developing, we undoubtedly want extra efficiency to even be near them. This has been an excellent weekend for us, however we want much more to have the ability to struggle with them for the entire season.”
