Max Verstappen is not completely satisfied with his win at the United States Grand Prix due to issues with the car’s balance and braking, but he doesn’t care about the boos from the fans because he is the one taking home the trophy.
Highlights
‣ Max Verstappen experienced difficulties with the balance of his car and braking during the race.
‣ Verstappen’s victory was significant as it marked his 50th F1 victory and 15th win of the season.
‣ Lewis Hamilton came close to challenging Verstappen, but the race ended before he could make a move.
‣ Verstappen remained unfazed by the boos from the fans, stating that he is the one who goes home with the trophy.
In a thrilling turn of events at the United States Grand Prix, Max Verstappen emerged victorious despite facing several challenges throughout the race. While the Dutchman celebrated his 50th F1 victory and 15th win of the season, he admitted to encountering difficulties with the car’s balance and braking performance. Additionally, Verstappen responded to the boos from fans during the Dutch national anthem.
Verstappen acknowledged that the race was tougher than anticipated due to issues with both the car’s stability and consistent braking. In his own words, he stated, “A bit less balance in the car, but also a lot of problems with braking the whole race. That just made it very difficult to be consistent.” The Dutchman emphasized the significance of confidence during braking, highlighting the challenge of not knowing how the car would respond.
The Red Bull Racing driver faced strong competition from Lewis Hamilton, who came close to launching an attack in the final stages of the race. However, Verstappen was relieved that the race did not extend beyond the laps completed, as the performance of the hard tires presented an additional challenge. Commenting on this, he mentioned, “No, but fortunately, you can’t extend the race… Yes, those hard tires were just not that good. And that made it a lot harder.”
For Verstappen, the US Grand Prix victory held significant sentimental value. Beyond being his 50th F1 triumph and 15th win of the season, it also coincided with the anniversary of the passing of Dietrich Mateschitz, the Red Bull co-founder. Verstappen disclosed that before the race, the team had a photo opportunity in jeans, symbolizing unity and camaraderie. This added an extra layer of meaning to the achievement.
Despite being the target of boos during the Dutch national anthem, with fans cheering for Sergio Perez, Verstappen remained unfazed. In response to whether he found the booing annoying, Verstappen simply expressed, “No. In the end, I’m the one who goes home with the trophy, fine by me.” His unwavering focus on his own success showcased his determination and ability to stay focused amidst external distractions.
Max Verstappen’s victory at the United States Grand Prix proved to be an arduous task, as he faced challenges with the car’s balance and braking performance. Nevertheless, he persevered and secured his 50th F1 victory and 15th win of the season. The race also held sentimental value, coinciding with the anniversary of Dietrich Mateschitz’s passing. Despite the boos from fans during the Dutch national anthem, Verstappen remained unaffected and focused on the ultimate prize – the trophy.
