Max Verstappen says his Belgian Grand Prix weekend was constructive as a result of he managed to increase his championship lead, regardless of a grid penalty.
Pink Bull took a brand new inner combustion engine (ICE) on Verstappen’s automotive at Spa-Francorchamps, with the monitor historically a lot better for overtaking than many different venues. Though he struggled to make vital headway after the opening few laps, Verstappen managed to get forward of Lando Norris by technique to cross the road fifth, being promoted to fourth by George Russell’s post-race disqualification.
“The steadiness of the automotive wasn’t too dangerous within the first few laps, however in fact I ran quite a bit in site visitors, which most likely additionally didn’t assist,” Verstappen mentioned. “However yeah, we have been simply not quicker than the automobiles round us, and then you definately simply get caught in that DRS practice.
“I believe as a crew we maximized the efficiency. Naturally, when you begin P1 with the tempo that we had, I believe you’re preventing for the win, regardless. However beginning P11, I knew that it was at all times going to be a injury limitation race.
“After all, trying on the championship, it was nonetheless a constructive day. I prolonged my lead, the place it might have additionally simply been calculating losses. So from that facet it’s a constructive day.”
Initially beginning the race seven locations behind Norris, Verstappen admits his fundamental focus was on the McLaren driver who’s his closest championship challenger, albeit over 70 factors adrift.
“I believe he didn’t have one of the best first lap, I don’t know what occurred there. However yeah, for me that’s what I have a look at, naturally.
“Loads of the opposite guys, they’ve accomplished nice races, however they’re fairly far behind within the championship. And for me, it’s with the automotive that in the intervening time most likely is just not the quickest within the race. It’s about simply limiting the injury and making an attempt to be as shut as I might be each single time.
“That’s what we’ve been doing currently. And naturally, I’d simply hope that we will discover a bit of bit extra efficiency as a result of it is going to make our lives a bit simpler within the race.”
Verstappen completed forward of teammate Sergio Perez – who light from second on the grid to be labeled seventh – and had a brief spell behind him, however doesn’t assume Pink Bull ought to have overly impacted Perez’s race to assist the championship chief’s restoration.
“No, I imply, I don’t assume it’s honest on him, as a result of he’s doing his personal race as effectively,” mentioned Verstappen. “So, I believe there we did the suitable factor. I don’t assume that might have mattered quite a bit in my race.”
