Verstappen details costly spin in “horrible” F1 British GP

Max Verstappen’s Challenging British Grand Prix

Max Verstappen, the driver for Red Bull Racing, described his recent British Grand Prix as “horrible,” emphasizing that it was even more difficult than he anticipated. The race at Silverstone proved to be a tough challenge for the four-time world champion, especially due to the unexpected weather conditions that drastically affected his performance.

Verstappen had made a strategic decision on Saturday to switch to a lower downforce rear wing in an attempt to address the understeer issues he faced on Friday. This move allowed him to secure a surprising pole position ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. However, the rain that hit the circuit both before and during the race turned out to be a major setback for Verstappen.

The low downforce setup, which was intended to improve his handling, backfired as he struggled to keep up with competitors like Piastri. He experienced a spin off the track during a restart and found himself battling to recover from 10th place to finish in fifth. Throughout the race, Verstappen managed to overtake drivers such as Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll, but the overall pace of his car was not sufficient to challenge the leaders.

Reflecting on the race, Verstappen admitted that the weather played a significant role in complicating his efforts. “It wasn’t easy, our pace was just not good, already from the start,” he said in an interview with Viaplay. He described the challenges of managing the car’s balance, noting that he had to constantly hold onto the wheel to avoid further issues.

The spin during the lap 22 restart was a critical moment for Verstappen. “I don’t know. I just got on throttle and the car was gone. I didn’t have the speed, and I did the same pace as the guys in front of me,” he explained. Although the weather eventually improved slightly, allowing for some better performance, the car’s balance remained off, making it difficult to compete effectively.

Despite the challenging conditions, Verstappen did not view the decision to adopt a lower downforce setup as a mistake. He attributed the sudden change in weather to the unpredictability of the forecast. “The weather forecast overnight just changed a lot,” he noted. Initially, the conditions were expected to improve, with only light rain in the morning. However, the situation deteriorated rapidly, leading to severe rain that impacted the race significantly.

Verstappen also highlighted the importance of the team’s strategy during the race. “We made the right calls. Stayed calm, stayed out as long as we could with the inters and that was, again, the right call.” This approach helped them secure a fifth-place finish, which Verstappen considered to be the best possible outcome given the circumstances.

Currently, Verstappen remains in third place in the championship standings. However, he is 69 points behind the leader, Oscar Piastri, who finished second in a McLaren 1-2 at Silverstone. This means that Verstappen is just eight points ahead of Lando Norris, adding to the competitive nature of the season.

Overall, the British Grand Prix was a test of resilience and adaptability for Verstappen, who faced numerous challenges throughout the race. His ability to remain composed and make strategic decisions under pressure highlights his experience and determination as a top-tier Formula 1 driver.