The United States Grand Prix witnessed Max Verstappen securing his fifth triumph in the current Formula 1 season, with a notable three victories occurring post the mid-season interval.
Verstappen, demonstrating exceptional skill with two pole positions and two Texas wins, encompassing the sprint event, amplified the strain on the McLaren team drivers vying for the championship. The leading Red Bull competitor has markedly diminished his lag, now standing at a mere 40 points, having effectively closed a gap of 64 points relative to Oscar Piastri across the preceding four race weekends – a development he openly acknowledged as unforeseen.
When questioned about the plausibility of such an outcome following his home race, Verstappen retorted: “Absolutely not. I would have dismissed anyone suggesting it as nonsensical!
“We’ve optimized our car’s setup to a considerable extent. It’s that simple. While upgrades were implemented, a deeper understanding of the car’s performance characteristics was gained – pinpointing areas for enhancement. Our team strives for perfection each weekend, achieving varied degrees of success. The last few race weekends have been significantly more streamlined in comparison to the preceding events.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
The Dutch driver celebrated a “flawless weekend” in Austin, while noting that the disparity in performance versus McLaren was slimmer than indicated by the final scores.
“The critical factor was the initial phase, enabling me to establish a slight lead,” the Red Bull competitor elaborated. “Subsequent to that, the situation remained relatively stable post the pitstop, lasting until the conclusion.”
“I believe that effective management of the tyres was crucial, albeit complicated by varying sensations or imbalances in specific laps, impacting grip levels positively or negatively. On such occasions, the emphasis is placed on avoiding errors.”
Verstappen accomplished this task, while observing that the duel between Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc proved advantageous. This afforded the current world titleholder a margin for manoeuvre, aiding in the preservation of tyres. Verstappen understands the scenario would have drastically changed had Norris maintained his initial advantage.
“In that case, the race would have been remarkably tight,” the Dutch competitor noted. “Whenever Lando enjoyed uninterrupted progress, our levels were closely aligned. There were instances where he seemed marginally quicker. Therefore, the concluding gap would not have materialized.”
Despite the favourable alterations to the Red Bull setup achieving the desired impact, yielding improved race pace for Verstappen relative to the sprint race, full satisfaction remained elusive. “Although marginally better, it remains short of my ideal state.”
Most significantly, Verstappen is acutely aware of the requisite attributes for a legitimate bid at a fifth successive championship title, an accomplishment so far limited to Michael Schumacher.
“To sustain a competitive stance until the end, we must operate flawlessly,” he emphasized. “Substantial progress has been achieved, yet the margins are minimal. Every weekend necessitates a drive for perfection, a pursuit we will relentlessly undertake.”
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– The Autosport.com Team
