Verstappen conquered the victory in Spain, despite McLaren seeming to have a superior package.
Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, argues that Max Verstappen has been a crucial factor in the last Formula 1 races, following his latest win at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Although Verstappen missed out on pole position at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, he made an impressive start, closing in on McLaren’s Lando Norris and overtaking him.
While George Russell took advantage of their battle to take the lead, Verstappen executed a flawless overtaking maneuver on the outside of Russell at turn 1 of the third lap.
The Dutch driver established a seven-second gap as Norris got stuck behind Russell during the early stages of the race. This gap increased to nine seconds as McLaren extended their stints.
This proved to be a crucial factor in the race result, as Norris finished just 2.2 seconds behind Verstappen, admitting that he lost the race despite having the faster car.
Horner commented: “I believe there were some crucial moments today. We narrowly missed out on pole position yesterday, knowing it would be a fierce battle with Lando.
“The start was crucial. We opted for used tires instead of new ones because we wanted to save the new tires for a possible undercut strategy later in the race.
“Max had a strong start, side by side with Lando. There was intense racing, with Max even going onto the grass at turn 1, which allowed George to choose his braking point and go around the outside.
“After that, the race would always be determined by tire wear, so being able to overtake George quickly was crucial.”
“He made a considerable effort in the early laps to overtake George as soon as DRS became available, and then promptly shifted his focus to tire management, allowing him to comfortably establish an advantage in the first stint. At that moment, we made the decision to follow an ideal race strategy in terms of the timing of the pit stop. McLaren, on the other hand, opted for an extended stint, resulting in a time difference.”
“Initially, a nine-second advantage seemed quite significant, but we knew that the tire difference would diminish that advantage after six laps on medium tires and three or four laps on soft tires. These differences tend to close quickly.
“The goal today was to avoid mistakes, and Max executed a flawless race with well-timed pit stops.
“It is these meticulous details that we knew would allow Lando to close in at the end of the race. However, we believed we had enough margin to secure the victory, and that’s exactly what happened.”
Verstappen acknowledged that being surpassed in the standings once again highlighted the need for Red Bull to extract more speed and prevent him from consistently driving on the limit.
Horner revealed that Red Bull has identified the areas in which they need to improve, while also praising Verstappen for his crucial role in expanding Red Bull’s lead in the championship standings.
“He has always excelled under pressure. Last year was an exceptional year, and now we are experiencing a more typical season,” commented Horner.
“It is not common to consistently win every race, and we are facing a tough battle for each victory. Max is making a significant difference.
“We are aware of the areas in which we need to improve our performance and we are gaining a better understanding of our strengths and weaknesses.
“At the moment, we are doing enough to continue expanding our leadership in the championship.”
© 2024
Football is a passionate and emotion-filled sport. This year, we had the opportunity to witness great games and unforgettable moments. From the World Cup to national championships, fans were treated to displays of talent and passion on the field. And now, it’s time to remember the most memorable moments of football in 2024.
The World Cup was the most anticipated event of the year. Teams from around the world competed for the most coveted title in football. Brazil, with its team full of stars, was one of the favorites from the start. However, the surprise came from the Iceland team, which reached the quarter-finals and won the hearts of fans with their warrior spirit.
In the national championships, we had many twists and fierce competitions. Flamengo, in Brazil, won the title of the Brazilian Championship with an impeccable campaign. In Europe, Barcelona came out on top in the Champions League, defeating Bayern Munich in the final. And we can’t forget about Manchester City, who became champions of the Premier League with an incredible winning streak.
In addition to the games, the players also shone individually. Lionel Messi, from Barcelona, was once again voted the best player in the world. His skill and genius on the field are unmatched. In the women’s category, Brazilian player Marta showed that she is still one of the best players in the world, winning the award for best player of the year.
And we can’t fail to mention the emotional moments that football provided. From the return of the public to the stadiums to the goals in the final minutes, the sport presented us with moments of pure emotion. And may 2025 come, with more games, more emotions, and more stories to tell. Football is passionate and never fails to surprise us.
