Max Verstappen is driving the Red Bull RB20.
Almost collected by team-mate Sergio Perez before later taking out a bollard, Max Verstappen was left with floor damage which Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said made P2 even a “pretty decent result”.
Although Verstappen initially managed to keep McLaren’s Oscar Piastri behind him at the start of the Miami GP, he was finding it difficult to shake off the persistent Australian. This was evident by his aggressive driving, as he went off-track at the Turn 14-15 chicane, dislodging the bollard while rejoining the race.
Did Sergio Perez leave a scratch for Max Verstappen?
Horner would disclose that the car’s underside suffered damage, as Verstappen confirmed a “hole” caused by hitting a bollard. Additionally, a “scratch” was discovered on the diffuser, potentially caused by Verstappen’s teammate Perez, who narrowly avoided colliding with him at the start of Turn 1.
Verstappen incurred substantial expenses due to the floor damage, which ultimately led to his second-place finish. The opportunity for McLaren’s Lando Norris to make a pit stop during the Safety Car period allowed him to maintain his lead. Norris then extended his advantage over Verstappen and went on to secure his first-ever Formula 1 triumph.
When asked about Verstappen’s race, Horner admitted to the media that the team struggled with finding the right balance throughout the entire weekend. Additionally, he mentioned that Verstappen’s collision with the bollard on Lap 20 caused significant damage to the car’s underside.
“We’ll need to assess the precise impact of that incident, but prior to sustaining damage, he had sufficient speed to distance himself from Oscar and Lando.”
“After that, we made a pit stop and luckily the Safety Car appeared at the perfect moment for Lando, granting him a free pit stop. However, it wasn’t ideal for us as it meant we were left with tires that were five, six, or even seven laps older and with the damage. Despite this, I believe finishing in second place was still a satisfactory outcome.”
Therefore, I believe it is necessary to extend our congratulations to Lando for achieving his inaugural triumph. Winning one’s first race is a significant milestone for every grand prix driver, so kudos to him and the McLaren team.
“However, despite that, we were able to secure the highest number of points in the Drivers’ Championship this weekend, thanks to a sprint race yesterday. Moreover, we have also achieved the most points in the Constructors’ Championship. Consequently, it has been an exceptionally successful weekend.”
When asked about the extent of damage on Verstappen’s RB20, Horner responded that it was quite significant in the area surrounding the left rear floor.
“There is a noticeable amount of missing information, and it is evident that everything has been subject to some degree of modification or adjustment.”
“So, it definitely wouldn’t be of any assistance.”
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Verstappen narrowly escaped race-ending damage at the first turn thanks to Perez’s quick maneuver. However, it’s uncertain whether he was truly fortunate, as evidenced by the diffuser scratch he discovered after the race.
Horner expressed his relief that both Red Bulls successfully navigated through the first turn, describing Perez’s start as “optimistic”.
Horner commented that Perez had a positive beginning.
“Due to a poor start, Charles Leclerc’s position was not ideal, leading to Sergio Perez having to slow down for him. This created an opportunity for Perez at the first corner, which he took, but he ended up going too deep and narrowly avoided colliding with Max Verstappen. Additionally, he almost collided with the Ferrari as it re-entered the track after the first corner.”
“It was a relief to witness the survival of both cars.”
After Verstappen’s single pit stop on Lap 24, the race took an unexpected turn when Kevin Magnussen and Logan Sargeant had a collision. This incident resulted in the deployment of the Safety Car and opened up a golden opportunity for Norris.
When questioned about the timing of Verstappen’s arrival, Horner explained, “We noticed Leclerc was gradually closing the gap, and it seemed like the most advantageous moment based on our strategy.”
“So, as you can see, Lando, everyone else has made a pit stop and he has effectively gained an extra stop for free. Additionally, he has the advantage of having fresher tires. However, the ultimate goal is to win the race, and he did an excellent job in achieving his first victory.”
Horner was asked if he believed Norris had the necessary speed to secure a victory without the fortunate intervention of the Safety Car.
Horner acknowledged that he couldn’t provide an answer to that question, but he did mention that Norris might have encountered significant challenges in overtaking if he had made his pit stop under regular conditions.
Horner stated that it was incredibly challenging to navigate through the traffic today, and it remains uncertain whether we will ever know the answer. He noted that there was not a significant amount of overtaking in the race, especially among the top 10 positions.
“It would have ultimately hinged on his pit stop’s outcome, potentially placing him in third or fourth position.”
Next time at Imola, Verstappen and Red Bull will aim to return to their winning form.
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