Verstappen says Red Bull needs more speed for 2021 title win
May 9 - Red Bull "clearly" needs to add some pace in order to fight for the 2021 world championship, Max Verstappen has admitted.
Although only trailing pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton by a tiny margin in Barcelona, the Dutchman's latest comments are the first sign this year that he may be worried about not being able to beat the Mercedes driver to the title.
However, some suggested that qualifying second in Barcelona may actually be an advantage for Verstappen, given the 600 metre long run to the first corner.
"I always prefer to be first, then you have everything in your own hands," Verstappen told Ziggo Sport after qualifying.
"I think I got the most out of it. It is not for no reason that I normally have two Mercedes in front of me or I am in between them.
"We clearly have to find some speed to be able to really beat them," he added.
There is no doubt that Red Bull has closed the gap to Mercedes this season, but Verstappen suggests that is not quite enough.
"We knew where our weaknesses were, but if you want to go for the championship, you really have to go the extra mile and take another step. But we know that already," he said.
According to Hamilton, though, Verstappen may actually be in the box seat for Sunday's race - especially when considering Red Bull's new rear wing.
The seven time world champion even described the Red Bull wing as "bendy" at one point.
"They've picked up a lot of pace with the change of wing," Hamilton said. "It's given them some nice speed on the straight, which has put them a lot more in contention with us."
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff agrees: "We are a little lacking in top speed compared to them. Red Bull has taken a step in this regard."
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A new kind of boring race. Lewis just bides his time, counting on his car’s superiority while Max blows everybody else out of the water, including Valteri who is never allowed to compete with his teammate.
Meanwhile Lewis tries to make believe that Red Bull is the superior car, harping on Max’s and Red Bull’s mistakes in an effort to extend the myth of his own superiority.
And the beat goes on. Give Max a Merc and the truth will come out...
Yeah, then if this happens and Lewis still beats him to a championship you're gonna say Merc is sabotaging Max to make Hamster win Loool. You'd just keep moving the goal post in making excuses. There's no rationalizing with you haters.
It's fun to watch y'all squirm tho.
Valteri not allowed to race, I had to stop reading right then. Hamilton haters never know when to quit, even when a red bull beats a Mercs
There seems to be a dire need to criticize and insult people who may not totally share your blind reverence for Lewis. How about that little Russel incident last season, geez, let’s forget that? Or ‘’Valteri, don’t slow down Lewis...’’ Now Lewis is claiming he was not aware of this, never heard it when everybody else did!
Sure, stop reading and don't be confused with facts.
Red bull strategy left Max down again..so frustrating to watch..Hungary all over again.. Lewis is a formidable champion, but is draining the lifeblood of the sport. Sick of the same delivery every week...'get in there Lewis'....'this is for everyone back in the factory '..ugh..rolls eyes
Those two trite comments are getting a bit old but MB/HAM keep winning. I don't understand 'get in there Lewis'. Where is there?
One has to admit that the Merc, the MB strategies, great pit crew and Lewis' driving are a formidable combo. You must have all 4 to win. Red Bull strategy and a botched pit stop failed Max this w/e.
RB are normally faster in the pits then Mercedes
Yes, but not last weekend... Unfortunately for them.
To be fair it was miscommunication..engineer said box next lap, max boxed on end of his current lap and pit crew were not prepared. They did an outstanding job given those circumstances to service the car in 4.4 seconds!! Again the failure seems to be RB reluctance to respond boldly to MB strategy. They went with the carbon copy strategy that failed before, besides learning from past mistakes, pitting Max when they learnt Lewis had pitted, given Max at least a shot of winning, after an amazing start and keeping Lewis at bay for so long..now that's the kind of race I want to watch!
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