Crimson Bull staff principal Christian Horner believes Max Verstappen’s victory within the Sao Paulo Grand Prix was “one of many nice drives in System 1”.
Verstappen began seventeenth on the grid and labored his method to the entrance of the sphere to win by almost 20 seconds forward of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly. The lowly grid slot was partly resulting from an influence unit penalty however largely all the way down to dangerous luck when a purple flag got here out in qualifying on Sunday morning, and Horner says the way in which Verstappen channeled his frustration was notably spectacular.
“You already know when to place an arm round him, however he’s not that sort of driver,” Horner mentioned. “He works it out for himself. His psychological resilience is big, and that’s a part of the energy that he has.
“However you may see how a lot it meant to him. I don’t suppose I’ve seen him that animated on a podium for… I can’t bear in mind the final time, so it meant an enormous quantity to him. And I actually consider that we’ve witnessed one of many nice drives in System 1.”
The beginning was essential to Verstappen’s progress as he pulled a surprising transfer across the exterior of Flip 3 to overhaul two automobiles, after which dove to the within of Lewis Hamilton into Flip 1 to make it six locations gained a lap later.
“It was an emotional rollercoaster as a result of we knew we had a superb automobile. I imply, [in the Sprint] the automobile was fast. And to complete third, then lose it with a VSC, however to have the ability to observe that carefully round right here within the Dash race, we knew that we acquired good tempo.
Quickest in Q1, after which in Q2 clearly, the way in which issues performed out, we have been simply very unfortunate. And so then, having elected to take the five-place penalty as properly with the engine, you’re on the penultimate row of the grid, P17. So, in a short time you must brush your self down and concentrate on the race forward.
“Max’s psychological energy and angle to cope with that’s excellent. And I believed his begin was electrical. And that first lap was up there with Donington 93’, across the exterior of Flip 3. I believe he handed, what, six automobiles on the primary lap? After which he was the one automobile that was actually making progress, with the ability to decide automobiles up so late on the brakes into Flip 1.
“Whether or not it was with Lewis, with Oscar Piastri, after which clearly on the restart with Esteban [Ocon]. After which he simply managed the race and pulled away with ease at typically a second a lap. So, on a reasonably dreary day, he shone fairly brightly.”
