Verstappen thought back to horror weekend: "Was keeping an eye on it"

Max Verstappen had to think back to the weekend in Imola during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Red Bull Racing driver was very focused and kept an eye on all parameters to eventually cross the line first and take his second victory of the season.

"I was thinking back, a little bit at Spa, but of course Imola," says Verstappen at the FIA ​​press conference. In Italy the hard tyre suddenly punctured. The ten-time Grand Prix winner regularly thought of it at the Yas Marina Circuit. "I was keeping an eye on it on every straight. But luckily it was all good. The pace was still there, the tyres were still performing."

The 17th and final Grand Prix weekend thus formed a good end for Verstappen and Red Bull. "I didn't expect before I got here to win the race and be on pole. "I also read that they had to turn the engines down a bit, so of course that's not helping for them. In general, I think the car performed very strong, and I think better than expected, so of course very happy with that. It's a great way to finish the season, a good boost for everyone in the team," he added. 

Mercedes with less engine power

Red Bull took advantage of the fact that Mercedes had to scale back its own engines to avoid problems in Abu Dhabi. "I also read that they had to turn the engines down a notch, so of course that doesn't help," said Verstappen, who makes little difference. "I just hope that we lean from the previous years that we have to be stronger in the beginning of the season to be able to give them a little bit of a harder time."