Max Verstappen (eighth) fought an interesting duel with Pierre Gasly in Japan, but he did not get past the Frenchman from Alpine. “We were perhaps a bit faster, but we are fighting more in the midfield than at the front.”
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From eleventh place on the grid, Verstappen quickly made his way forward in the race on Sunday. “My start was at least better than the last few times,” he said with a smile to F1TV. “I was even able to gain a few positions, overtake some cars. But at a certain point, there is a ceiling to what you can do.”
That ceiling turned out to be the battle with Gasly. For a long time, he was in a duel with the Alpine driver for P7. “We were evenly matched. I was perhaps even a bit faster. But that’s easy to say in hindsight, it was difficult to overtake. I could pass him, but then I was immediately overtaken because my battery was empty.”
The problem was mainly in the energy balance: it works when attacking, but not when defending. “I tried it immediately, I got past as well. But on the straight, you have nothing left in the battery,” said Verstappen. “I then tried to keep the pressure on Pierre, hoping for a mistake or high tire wear. But that didn’t happen.”
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In the end, it was close and it remained P8 for Verstappen. “I tried to get the maximum out of the car, despite all the difficulties. The problems that were there on Saturday were also there today.” And so there is still work to be done. “We are now fighting more in the midfield than at the front.”
Hoping for a solution
On his own site Verstappen.com, the Dutchman elaborates further on the current situation. He wants to stay positive. “It doesn’t help to just be frustrated all the time. It’s naturally not how it should be.”
Due to the cancelled races in the Middle East, the Formula 1 teams have time in the coming weeks to work on the car. Verstappen hopes that Red Bull Racing can come up with a solution for the RB22. “Hopefully a lot, because we also have a lot of problems. Hopefully, it will all become a bit more drivable.”
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Read everything about the Japanese GP here
