Max Verstappen settles for 2nd place in Australia: "We are where I expected"

While Isack Hadjar made a mistake on the formation lap, opening the way for five other retirements (Jack Doohan, Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto), Max Verstappen seemed pleased with his result on the wet Albert Park track. It was a tough but fun race, said the four-time reigning world champion. Lando had more strength than us in Turn 6, I tried to get closer to him with the DRS, but it was difficult to overtake him. The pilot Red Bull, who started third on the grid behind the race winner and Oscar piastri, its "amused" and appreciated having the ability to fight for victory: “When you fight for victory, it feels good.”

THE BATTLE NORRIS / VERSTAPPEN IN THE LAST LAP 😳

It's finally the pilot McLaren who wins after a crazy race!!#AustralianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/0wfn9HfqoG

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) March 16, 2025

Good points for the start of the season

Max Verstappen's podium finish earned Red Bull its first and only points of the season, as teammate Liam Lawson was forced to retire after a crash on lap 47. The 18 points for the season put the Red Bull in third place in the Constructors' standings, behind McLaren, who have 27 points (nine more) and Mercedes (25 points) at the end of this start of the season. "It's a decent start from us, the Dutch driver rejoiced. We're where I expected us to be, we lacked a bit of pace against McLaren, but it's still 18 points more than what I scored here last year."

Max Verstappen shows he remains competitive against McLaren, despite a car that appears less capable than those of the 2024 Constructors' champions, even in the wet. Strategies were not easy for the teams, who were caught out by the rain and the Safety Car. Ferrari has also paid the price. The Milton Keynes stable has taken the "good decision" according to No. 1. There was a bit of a panic about whether to go back or not, explains Verstappen. I stayed out the first time, I think it was the right decision, but unfortunately the weather conditions got worse. We didn't have to go back in. Maybe if I had stopped a lap earlier, we would still have been second, but we had to play a little bit. It was quite spicy today."

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