While everyone else in the top ten started in the middle mix race, after starting on the hardest set of tires, Verstappen could afford to drive to the mechanics to get to know each other later than the Mercedes drivers who were in the lead.
He returned to the track after the Verstappen stop just behind Valtteri Bottas, but soon dealt with Finn and returned to the lead. In just six laps, Verstappen was in the pits again and returned from the middle set to hard, which he had already finished in the rest of the race.
It seemed that Verstappen could be deprived of the victory by the second Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, but when he also went to the pits for the second stop, Verstappen was practically certain of his first triumph this year.
“I did not know it would happen. After the first stint, however, it looked like we were really good on those tires. It was, of course, a question of how Mercedes would be driven on a hard set, “said Verstappen.
“Our car had a lot of speed, I didn’t have much problems with the tires. We just kept pushing and winning here is obviously an incredible result. We had a great day. Everything worked out, we had the right strategy and everything went smoothly. I am very happy to have won. “
Verstappen also said after the race that he felt a chance to beat Mercedes and did not want to have her taken.
“So far (this season) we haven’t really had a chance to push them. And I saw that we were pushing them. So I tried to put pressure on them. They had to stop and from then on I was able to go at my own pace and build a lead to the finish line, “added Verstappen, who moved to second place in the standings thanks to the victory.
Albon fifth
In the fourth race in a row, Red Bull co-driver Alexander Albon also scored points, finishing fifth behind Verstappen, both Mercedes and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari.
“I am satisfied with today’s race, the car was incredible today. It was difficult to overtake at the beginning of the race, because everyone in the train had DRS, but as soon as we had clean air, we had a good chance to fight our way through the field, “said Albon.
“I was surprised by the balance and racing speed. It was very good, we have to understand why. It shows that we have a lot of potential in the car, sometimes it’s just difficult to get it. “
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