Verstappen: “A risky overtake”

The second consecutive podium of Max Verstappen won yesterday during the British Grand Prix is ​​well deserved in view of the new superb performance of the young prodigy of Red Bull Racing.

After following at the start of the race the Mercedes by Nico Rosberg, the Dutchman went on the attack, overtaking the German driver at the exit of the Maggots-Becketts-Chapel chain, having benefited from a slight drift from the No. 07 W6 Hybrid.

“The move outside at Becketts was fun, emphasizes Verstappen. Nico was trying to keep the interior, so I tried the exterior. It was a risky overtake for sure. The car had grip and I had a good feeling and it worked well. There was a bit of off-path clearance, so I had room anyway if it had gone wrong. »

In the last stint, however, the RB12 driver will be unable to do anything against Rosberg, who after several laps of putting pressure on Verstappen, will succeed in overtaking at Stowe. “Nico was attacking hard, and didn’t make it easy for me and we had some good fights in Stowe.

We were fighting in a straight line and he made a great move from the outside and from there I made my own run, without any pressure from behind. Then I heard that Nico had a problem. I tried to close the gap, but once you get to contact it's difficult to get even closer on this track. »

It was finally after the finish that Verstappen would (still provisionally) take second place in the Grand Prix, after the penalty imposed on Rosberg for prohibited radio communications. Mercedes' possible appeal further suspends the results of the British event.

Find the report and analysis of the British Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents at Silverstone, in issue 2071 of AUTOhebdo, available from 22 p.m. this evening in digital version, and from this Wednesday on newsstands.