At a press conference after the finish of the Miami Grand Prix, Max Verstappen spoke about his victory, shared his thoughts on the prospects for Red Bull Racing in the upcoming races and commented on the behavior of the fans who watched him before the start and during the award ceremony.
Q: Max, from the outside it looked like you had a perfect race. Of all your Formula 1 victories, where does this one rank in Miami?
Max Verstappen: Yes, a good race. It was important to stay away from problems in the first circles. The opponents who started next to me tried to regain positions as quickly as possible in the first lap. I understood this and I knew we had a fast car, so it was important to wait for things to settle down and then take back place after place. The plan worked great.
I even had a fight with three cars in a straight line, so it was kind of fun. The car has a fast pace and I was able to control the tire wear. When I was on an empty track, I started driving circles with a target time. I don’t know exactly, but I think it was in the middle of the segment.
I wasn’t sure if I could do it, but as the lap times got closer to what I needed I thought, ‘Okay, that’s good.’ I started to attack and created a gap, which was the determining factor in the race.
After the pit stop I got fresh tires for the last part. I had to be careful with the tires and in the end I had a good battle with Sergio. We got to fight each other, which the team has talked about before, and we did. The main thing is that my partner and I did not hurt each other, so everything went perfectly.
Q: How much patience did you have in the early rounds with so many things around you?
Max VerstappenA: I was in a similar situation once or twice last year in Jeddah. It was important to be careful not to damage the car. I have it all.
Q: What was the most important factor in the win?
Max Verstappen: I think the most important factor was the pace of the car as a whole and the control of rubber wear in a single pit stop. It may seem that victory came easily to me, but the race was not easy. The day went well.
Q: The teams are preparing many new products for the stage in Imola. Do you think the gaps are getting smaller or, conversely, can Red Bull further increase the advantage?
Max Verstappen: We have a serious advantage, especially on the distance of the race. On some circuits in qualifying, some teams will be close to us or completely ahead of us, as it was already in Baku. However, our advantage in race pace is quite significant at the moment.
It certainly won’t be the case that the rivals will bring new items, and we will stand still. I hope we continue to perform as we are doing now.
Q: Max, the fans booed you before the race and on the podium when you were handed the cup. What do you think? Does this public reaction affect you?
Max Verstappen: I think if I drove behind, no one would have responded to me. Right? It’s very normal when you win, and people don’t like those who win. For me personally, this reaction is completely normal. For me the most important thing is to be on top of the podium. I will bring home the cup and the audience will return to their chambers and have a good evening.
Q: George Russell didn’t like the new driver induction ceremony before the start. What do you think about it? Would you like to see more ceremonies like this at other Grands Prix?
Max Verstappen: Honestly, I had plenty of time to talk to the engineers and prepare for the race. I suppose the attitude to such ceremonies depends on the individual – someone likes to be in the spotlight, someone doesn’t. Personally I don’t like it.
I believe that such a ceremony, which took place in Miami before the start, is not necessary. I would have preferred to talk longer with the mechanics, walk to the car, put on a helmet and go. But of course I understand the importance of the entertainment component. I just hope there won’t be ceremonies like that every time, because the season is already long, so there’s no need to represent us in every race.
But of course the decision depends on the kind of audience we are performing for, what kind of entertainment we want to organize. I think the attitude depends on the personal preferences of the riders. Personally I don’t need it.
Q: Max, it’s been decades since the last Formula 1 win from ninth place. [Ники Лауда, Гран При Франции 1984 года]. How sure were you before the start that you could win? Did you have doubts?
Max Verstappen: On Saturday I told myself that second place is my minimum, because the speed of the car allows you to count on such a position. Although, of course, it was difficult to predict the development of events.
If I had a terrible first lap I would have made it difficult for myself, but I was lucky and the car was not damaged. Again, it all depended on the speed of the car and how to get the most out of it. Luckily everything went well, I was able to regain the position and win the race.
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.
