Dutch GP: Max Verstappen starts on soft tires – “I just wanted to have some fun”
As always, Max Verstappen gave his all at the recent Dutch Grand Prix, securing a podium finish in second place.
However, the Red Bull team opted for an unusual tire choice at the start of the race. Both Red Bull drivers were the only ones to begin on the soft compound, a strategic decision that raised some eyebrows. After the race, Verstappen was asked about the reasoning behind this choice, and he explained: “For me, the soft tire was the best option based on Friday’s sessions, so it was expected. Obviously, with the Safety Car, everyone had to pit to fit new sets, but everything was calculated.”
“The start was good, then I attempted an outside pass in turns 1 and 2, where there’s always a lot of sand. I kept pushing and went a bit sideways heading into turn 3, but it all went well,” he added.
Indeed, the soft tires helped the Dutch driver make an early move past Lando Norris at the start. Unfortunately for Verstappen, the British driver had more pace and was able to overtake him again without much difficulty.
McLaren: “a different championship”
Regarding the battle with Norris, Max explained that it “didn’t make sense” to fight too hard: “I still wanted to have some fun. After the pass, I continued following my own pace, which meant that at some point Lando would pass me again. It’s clear that this is a different championship [for McLaren]. There’s no point in ruining your own race by defending aggressively or losing two or three laps trying to ‘save yourself.’ Unfortunately, it doesn’t achieve anything.”
The four-time World Champion acknowledged the reality that, this year, it is nearly impossible to compete with McLaren unless luck intervenes, as it did during the final laps of the Dutch Grand Prix.
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