Max about Suzuka: “Not giving away second place just like that”
Published on 20 October 2016 by Mike Motilall
With the American Grand Prix ahead, this weekend, Max Verstappen faced the press on Thursday to once again share his opinion on the previous race in Japan, and to also look ahead at the race in Texas.
On the Circuit of the Americas, where the fast youngster finished fourth last year in his Toro Rosso, Max says: “We need to stay awake in the fight with Ferrari. We are leading by 50 points and have a nice buffer, but we cannot afford ourselves to get distracted. Ferrari has had their share of bad luck, but I am not worried. We have a great car and in Japan we have shown that we have the pace to keep up with Ferrari.”
Max is also asked about his fight with Lewis Hamilton at Suzuka, which caused Mercedes to file a protest and to shortly afterwards withdraw. Max: “I don’t think about something like that after the race has finished. I defend my position and that’s that. Many drivers would have done it the same way as I have. Japan was one of my best races, and I am not giving away my second place just like that. My best race remains of course the race in Spain, which I won.”
Regarding Daniel Ricciardo’s engine issues in Japan, Max says: “I have looked at his data and saw that there was not much of a difference. The issue is not relevant here as we both will get a new power unit.”
“Austin is a great circuit. You can drive different lines and it is not easy to drive a faultless lap. A good setup is even more important here than on any other track, because there are so many different corners on this track. But the more I drive for Red Bull Racing, the better I get to learn the car. In the beginning I used to copy Daniel’s setup, but after a while I started setting the car up to my own preference. I really started doing that in Malaysia and continued on doing that in Japan. That’s how it should be.”
In conclusion, Max shares his view on the championship fight between leader in the standings Nico Rosberg and reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton. “Everything is pointing in Rosberg’s direction, but I know how fast the balance can shift in racing. One drop out from Rosberg and at the same time a victory for Lewis and everything starts over again.”
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