On the Baku Metropolis Circuit, the phrases Russell spoke after qualifying turned actuality: the Mercedes driver had already predicted on Friday that, regardless of beginning eighth, Verstappen would pose the largest risk for victory, and that proved to be the case in an exciting finale across the streets of Baku.
Verstappen fell simply 0.196 seconds in need of his first victory of the 2026 Method 1 season on the line, though he burdened afterwards that the precise hole was barely bigger than that.
“In fact, it seemed shut on the road, however I feel that was extra as a result of George suffered from just a little little bit of enhance lag in Flip 15 with the yellow flag”, Verstappen stated.
“So should you take a look at the final stint, it was all the time one second, in order that’s most likely additionally the place we’d have completed.”
It’s a principle that Russell himself additionally confirms. After lifting off for Valtteri Bottas’ crash, the Mercedes energy unit didn’t instantly ship the acceleration he was anticipating.
“When the yellow flag got here out, I lifted off the facility and once I went again on, I had no turbo, so then I had no energy”, the Mercedes driver defined. “Max nearly bought me on the line. That will have been an actual disgrace, however all in all, it’s been an unimaginable weekend.”
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes
Picture by: Alex Pantling / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
Verstappen additionally believes the result of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix would have been the identical had he began from the entrance row.
On Friday, the four-time world champion concluded that Purple Bull had “carried out a terrific job messing up” its finest likelihood of a victory this 12 months with the engine downside, however 24 hours later Verstappen believes the closing levels of the race would have performed out in kind of the identical means.
“I imply, that’s what occurred yesterday. You might have an issue and that implies that you must begin from P8. However I feel even when I began second, I feel with the tempo of George, it will have been very arduous to go”, the Dutchman admitted.
“So possibly I may have adopted him a bit higher in that first stint, after all. However you then field, you’re second, after which we’d most likely have carried out the identical race, simply pushing one another alongside.”
Verstappen in a position to get pleasure from F1 for one of many first occasions in 2026
Verstappen does, nonetheless, say that he loved the closing levels in Baku, which, given all of the shortcomings of the technical rules, was one of many first occasions he had carried out so all 12 months.
“I’ve to say that these final laps have been very fulfilling as a result of there was barely any deg, actually. We have been simply pushing to the top and the hole was all the time, like, one second or 1.1. That was good.”
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Purple Bull Racing
Picture by: Alastair Staley / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
Verstappen additionally took dangers in that respect, dangers he maybe wouldn’t have taken for any consequence aside from a possible race win. He knew Purple Bull – particularly with overtake mode – had a formidable quantity of high pace, whereas Mercedes was quicker within the twisty part round Baku’s previous city.
To nonetheless give himself an opportunity on the longest straight of the F1 calendar and at the very least shut the hole once more on each lap, Verstappen tried to ‘open up’ the ultimate few corners as a lot as attainable.
“That final stint was enjoyable. I kissed just a few partitions as nicely, however that was simply to go away my mark right here in Baku!”, Verstappen smiled.
“So, yeah, it’s all the time very difficult round right here, qualifying and now on the finish of the race as nicely, simply pushing flat out. That comes with danger, after all, being near sure partitions on the within and the skin, nevertheless it was cool.”
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