Verstappen thinks VSC period cost him podium shot
Max Verstappen believes he lost any Azerbaijan Grand Prix podium chance because his Red Bull-Honda Formula 1 car was too sensitive to tyre temperature after the virtual safety car period.
Verstappen finished fourth in Baku, having been gaining on the race-leading Mercedes and Sebastian Vettel's third-placed Ferrari before the VSC caused by his teammate Pierre Gasly parking in an escape road.
"I was catching up seven/eight seconds over that stint, so that was all good, but as soon as we got to the virtual safety car, I lost a lot of temperature," said Verstappen.
"It seems like our car is a maybe a bit more sensitive to that, or we're just not on top of the tyres. I don't know - otherwise we would've of course fixed that.
"It was a lot more difficult after that, I was just sliding a lot, and around here if you don't have the grip, you can't take the risk into the corner and you lose a lot of laptime."
He believes the issue was specific to the Baku track conditions rather than being a fundamental Red Bull weakness.
"I think it's just something on this track where it's already very slippery, it seems like we are just not on top of it yet," said Verstappen.
Verstappen was the last of the eventual top four to make a pitstop in the first part of the race.
"Maybe it was too late. But on the other hand, I was also catching them a lot in the end," he said. "It was all looking good for us, if there was no virtual safety car - but that you can never plan."
Red Bull ordered Verstappen to avoid the Turn 16 kerb in the final part of the race.
"I think Pierre had a driveshaft failure, that's why they told me to stay off the kerbs, just to minimise the angle on it," he replied when asked about the instruction by Motorsport.com.
"And then also the last few laps I just stayed off all kerbs, but of course in the infield it's a lot of laptime. But anyway I didn't have the grip anymore. I knew I was going to be fourth anyway."
Share Or Save This Story
Ferrari drivers escape punishment for clash
Hamilton accepts full responsibility for Albon collision
Vettel, Leclerc called to stewards over accident
Max Verstappen reveals cause of shock Monaco GP retirement: "Engine just dropped dead"
Max Verstappen, Mercedes and Oscar Piastri: The key factors in F1’s silly season
From “a new back” to the front row: What’s behind Max Verstappen’s surprise Monaco pace?
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen steal show after Kimi Antonelli Monaco GP pole with viral moment
Max Verstappen "felt like myself again" in flat-out Monaco F1 qualifying
Where you can find the best battles of F1 2026
F1 Monaco GP live commentary and updates - Kimi Antonelli leads but Lance Stroll causes late safety car
Jorge Martin escapes injury but hit with penalty for Hungarian GP crash
Max Verstappen reveals cause of shock Monaco GP retirement: "Engine just dropped dead"
Kimi Antonelli earns Ayrton Senna comparison after stunning Monaco GP qualifying
Why Toto Wolff may need to try some distraction tactics
From “a new back” to the front row: What’s behind Max Verstappen’s surprise Monaco pace?
How Kimi Antonelli's "magic lap" stole pole from Max Verstappen in Monaco
What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments