Reuters
Formula One F1 – Steiermark Grand Prix – Red Bull Ring, Spielberg , Styria, Austria – June 26, 2021 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wearing a protective face mask during a press conference after qualifying in pole position FIA/Handout via REUTERS
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Steiermark Grand Prix – Red Bull Ring, Spielberg , Styria, Austria – June 26, 2021 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wearing a protective face mask during a press conference after qualifying in pole position FIA/Handout via REUTERS
Max Verstappen is clearly at the top of his game this season. While the Dutchman leads his arch-rival, Lewis Hamilton, by 12 points in the Drivers’ Championship, he took his third pole position of the season at the Styrian Grand Prix earlier today.
Although Red Bull look like a much stronger team from last season, questions about their improvements continue to grow. In the post-qualifying press conference, Verstappen gave a solution to give clarity once and for all.
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Max Verstappen hints at giving print outs to journalists to explain Red Bull’s developments
While Mercedes complained about Red Bull’s flexible rear wing in the past, they took up a new issue in Styria. After Hamilton and Toto Wolff spoke about the legality of Red Bull’s engine, Christian Horner hit back with comments of his own.
And during the post-qualifying press conference, Verstappen didn’t pull back either, pointing out their rear wing is aiding their performance this season.
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Formula One F1 – Steiermark Grand Prix – Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Styria, Austria – June 26, 2021 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen during qualifying REUTERS/Lisi Niesner
He said, “I think next time, I am going to bring a print-out of the rear wing difference we’re running, and then I’m going to hand it over to every single journalist.
“Because I get these questions [for] two or three weeks now, that we are really quick in the straight, and yes we are. But look at our rear wing.
“I don’t think it’s exactly the same. So I’m going to fire up my printer next time, and I’m going to hand over a few shots.”
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Verstappen: Honda did a great job compared to last year
The Dutchman also appreciated the work done by Honda on the engine while mentioning they only made improvements to its reliability since the first race this season.
He said, “For sure, Honda did a great job compared to last year. But from our first engine to the engine we have in the car now, it’s all about reliability improvements, and no clear advantage on pure power.”
Verstappen looked the quickest of any driver across Friday and Saturday in the Styrian mountains by a country mile. In fact, his pole position time was two-tenths quicker than Hamilton’s time in Q3, which shows the pace Red Bull carry in their home race.
Can the 23-year-old record his fourth win of the season and extend his lead in the championship in Red Bull’s home race?
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