Verstappen on the end of the race: “I felt it coming”

The law of the strongest. In Barcelona this Sunday, Max Verstappen (Red Bull) will have been unable to do anything in the face of Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) helped by the good strategic choice of his team.

Then 2nd in the race, the Englishman decided to make a second pass through his pit while the Dutchman chose to stay on the track.

With a lead of 22 seconds, Max Verstappen saw Lewis Hamilton come back like a cannonball. Powerless against the W12 of the reigning world champion, the 23-year-old driver was finally forced to lose 7 laps from the checkered flag.

« I felt it coming, he said upon arrival. At the end of the first stint on the soft tires he (Hamilton) was faster. When we put on the mediums he clearly had a better pace than me. There wasn't much more we could have done. They then stopped a second time and I knew from then on it was over. I was already suffering with my tires and he was getting closer lap after lap.

When you're in the lead you never want to stop to avoid traffic at the exit. Clearly a second stop gives you a distinct advantage. I'm not sure we would have made up for it by making a second stop. We lacked rhythm. However, I did everything I could ».

The winning move! #SpanishGP  #F1 pic.twitter.com/kKTnx5apaf

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 9, 2021

Max Verstappen beaten again by Lewis Hamilton, it is clear the domination of Mercedes despite the progress of Red Bull. A fact that the Dutchman is not unaware of, far from it.

« This result proves that we are not where we want to be, he persists. We have to work hard to come back because at the moment we are slower. Despite everything, we have taken a big step forward compared to last year ».

Find the analysis of the Spanish Grand Prix by our specialists in AUTOhebdo No. 2311, available this Monday evening in digital version and on Wednesday on newsstands.