Victory would have been difficult to aim for according to Verstappen

With two consecutive victories in Austria, Max Verstappen et Red Bull Racing could move forward with some certainty at the start of the 2020 World Championship season F1 this week-end.

Third in qualifying, then second on the grid with the penalty received by Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), the Dutchman had a card to play against the other Mercedes W11 of Valtteri Bottas. Especially since the Austrian team had chosen to start its driver on medium tires, offering more strategic possibilities in the race.

Second behind leader Bottas for a long time, Verstappen was however unable to take advantage of any opportunity, the mechanics of his RB16 preventing him from going further after less than 15 laps in the Grand Prix.

“I don’t know yet what happened, we will investigate and find out but of course this is not how you want to start the season, cowardly, disappointed, the double winner 2018 and 2019.

I had a good start, unlike last year, and very early on I could see that Valtteri was fast, so fighting for victory was going to be a big challenge.

I think it would have been an easy podium and third place would have been a good start to the season but what can you do? It's racing and that's how it is, you can't change the result now.

It's a shame for everyone who worked so hard to get us here this weekend, but we'll just focus on racing next week and hope for something better. »

The day for Red Bull Racing could have had a happy ending, but Alex Albon saw his chances of victory and podium ruined after a collision with Lewis Hamilton.

Discover the full report and analysis of the Austrian Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondent in Spielberg, in issue 2268 of AUTOhebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version and this Wednesday on newsstands.