Verstappen had to be careful: "You really couldn't attack at all"

F1 News

29 May 2022 at 18:00
  • GPblog.com

Max Verstappen is happy with his podium finish for the Monaco Grand Prix. After qualifying, the Dutchman did not expect the result, but of course, he would have preferred to win on the iconic street circuit.

"That's ultimately the positive of today of course. I didn't expect yesterday that I would end up extending the championship [lead] further. In general, this race is quite frustrating and boring when you are chasing someone all the time. I think as a team we maximized everything," Verstappen told Viaplay's camera.

At Ferrari, the double pit stop went wrong because Charles Leclerc came into the pit lane right behind Carlos Sainz, forcing the Monegasque to wait. At Red Bull, the double stop did go well. "It was planned that way. In the end, you lose too much time otherwise if you continue on those intermediates. That was also the only option."

Verstappen had to be careful

"When we drove on those extremes it was still too wet, so I do think we made the right decision as a team. It was very slippery, especially on those rain tires you had zero grip. You had to be super careful. You start sliding on that rubber very quickly. You really couldn't attack at all. On the intermediates, it went very well for a moment, but then you immediately destroy the front tyre", continues the Dutchman.

Verstappen would have preferred to win in Monaco of course, but after the P4 in qualifying, he can be satisfied with his podium finish. "Of course, I would have preferred it differently, but after yesterday with what happened in Q3, this is also the maximum for me," he ends.