Max Verstappen started the new season with a confident victory in Bahrain. In an interview after the finish, the Red Bull Racing driver summed up the weekend and made a prediction for the season.
Q: Are you happy with how the first leg of the season went?
Max VerstappenA: Yeah, really good race. The first stint was important because I was able to make a small gap there and after that it was necessary to control the tire wear. But the car was also fast, confirming the speed we saw in tests and long runs in practice over the weekend. However, all this had to be demonstrated in the race.
You never know how events will unfold during the race, but we were on top. The race turned out to be quite easy – the team made the right strategic decisions and successfully executed pit stops – we did well.
Q: After qualifying, you said you were not happy with the balance. Was he better in the race?
Max Verstappen: Yes, but usually the car feels a bit different in the long run because there is no need to attack at the limit. There were indeed fewer problems, although I was not completely satisfied with the car at the start of the weekend. I think there are a few areas we need to work on, but for now I’m happy. On Monday we will go back to base and sort out all the issues before heading to the next stage in Jeddah.
Question During the race over the radio you told the team about the locking of the rear wheels. How serious was this problem?
Max Verstappen: There has been the occasional blockage in various corners, but this is nothing new. This happened last year and two years ago. The team is constantly working on this issue and trying to improve the situation. In general, this is not a serious concern.
Q: Can you replicate the stunning pace demonstrated in Bahrain at other circuits? For example in Saudi Arabia?
Max Verstappen: In Saudi Arabia a completely different circuit, with more straight, fast corners and less tire wear. Low relegation is our strength, so I expect the battle in Jeddah to be tighter in terms of race pace.
Q: Will the speed shown in Bahrain make you feel more confident?
Max Verstappen: The team had a great start to the season – we are not used to this! We are all very happy, but we keep working.
Q: Were you surprised by the advantage in the race considering the balance issues on Friday and Saturday? And one more question: what do you expect from Ferrari in Jeddah?
Max Verstappen: I already mentioned that the balance settings for one fast lap and for the distance of the race are different. On Friday I wasn’t happy with the speed on the fast lap, but I was happy with the car over the long haul, so the pace in the race was no surprise.
I’m happy with how we looked in Bahrain, but in Bahrain it will be a slightly different picture. Our car looks good on fast tracks, but the Ferrari is also quite fast on the straights, which are many in Jeddah. Time will tell – it’s hard to make predictions right now.
We have only worked with new machines in Bahrain, so we have to wait. Of course we will do our best. During the training we will understand what our chances are.
Q: Do you think Fernando Alonso is a contender for the title this season?
Max VerstappenA: Like Fernando, I hope so. For years he couldn’t fight at the front so I’m glad he was on the podium in the first race. I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again: Aston Martin has a great team spirit, they want to win and they’ve hired a lot of good people to do that. I think these steps will only make them better.
It’s hard to say if Aston Martin will claim the title this year, but wins in individual races are certainly possible. I was in their place when I finished 20-40 seconds behind the leader, but still I was winning two or three races a year just because the tracks suited us and everything else was in our favor, sometimes luck helped. There is no doubt that they have a fast car, but now everything depends on further development.
Q: For the first time in 12 years, Red Bull Racing won the first race of the season. Has it somehow affected the team’s mood, especially compared to last year when you and your partner both retired?
Max Verstappen: Of course last year’s result upset us a lot. Usually we take second place. I don’t think the win in Bahrain has in any way affected the mentality of the team compared to previous years, or how we will continue to work and develop the car. But it’s great to start the season with a win. It helped us a lot that the car has no extra weight – now it is almost perfect.
As I said, a great start, but as the season progresses we have a lot of work to do to modernize the car. We hope that we will achieve more than other teams in this, because we want to maintain the current lead.
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
