For Verstappen, no blockage on Leclerc at the start: “There was plenty of room”

We can thank Max Verstappen (Red Bull) for offering French viewers still awake at midnight a moment of tension at the start of the Sprint Race in Austin (Texas). Before easily winning the race with nine seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), the three-time world champion F1 distinguished himself by blocking the passage to Charles Leclerc in the climb of the first turn:

Strong start to the Sprint race 💪💥

Verstappen keeps the lead, Hamilton passes Leclerc ⚡️#USGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/oGFneFAsNv

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) October 21, 2023

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Both cars went to the pit exit lane, and the Ferrari went behind the limits of the track, before giving up his second place to Lewis Hamilton. Asked about this maneuver after the finish, Max Verstappen saw nothing abnormal in it.

“It was quite tight, but fortunately there was plenty of room before entering the first corner, did he declare. It helped me. Then I was able to control my pace. I was able to have more fun at the end of the race by attacking! »

However, we believed in a duel between the Dutchman and the eight-time world champion at the start of the effort. It was a pipe dream. “For several laps, I couldn't increase my lead (on Hamilton. Ed.), which remained around eight or nine tenths. With so many gusts of wind on this circuit, the DRS had a more significant influence. Once I got beyond a second lead, I was able to ride on my hand. The car performed very well today.

Tomorrow I need to have this same rhythm. Starting sixth, I hope to have a fun race, with some overtaking. »