Max Verstappen says his Pink Bull Racing automobile is performing higher than it has all season after profitable back-to-back grands prix for the primary time since final June.
Verstappen managed the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, main each lap from pole and setting the quickest lap for his sixth profession grand slam. He’s solely the second driver to win the Baku race greater than as soon as, following former teammate Sergio Perez.
The victory follows a equally dominant win in Italy two weeks in the past, the place he claimed victory by the largest margin of the season. Requested whether or not this was the very best his RB21 had felt this yr, having claimed his sixth pole on path to his fourth victory, the Dutchman replied within the affirmative.
“Along with Monza, yep,” he mentioned. “Monza has by no means actually been a very robust observe for us, so to do this, that was already a giant plus.
“For me right here in Baku, it’s been all proper however by no means wonderful, aside from perhaps 2021 and 2022, however the remaining has at all times been a bit troublesome. So to have a weekend like this, it was essential.”
It wasn’t simply in regards to the outcome for the reigning champion; it was additionally about the best way he was capable of construct as much as Sunday after which run what he described as a “fairly simple” race.
“General only a nice weekend for us,” he mentioned. “I’m very pleased with how the race was going – I imply, I may go very lengthy in that first stint. The automobile was doing just about what I needed it to do.
“We simply stayed out till mainly everybody pitted, after which there have been just a few laps left on the medium, clearing just a few backmarkers, which took a little bit of time. However after that, simply bringing it house.
“For us that’s one other simply nice outcome. A bit uncommon – this season has been actually swinging left and proper, however at the least now two weekends in a row, it’s been going rather well.”
Two races is sufficient of a development for McLaren boss Andrea Stella, who suspects the improve dropped at the Pink Bull Racing automobile in Italy has reset the pecking order and made Verstappen a daily victory contender once more.
Baku and Monza are two of probably the most excessive circuits on the calendar. Each are dominated by lengthy straights, although their nook profiles are completely different. Verstappen cautioned {that a} bigger pattern dimension was wanted earlier than drawing conclusions on Pink Bull Racing’s resurgence.
“It’s troublesome to say for the time being,” he mentioned. “However for positive the final two race weekends have been wonderful for us. Singapore [the next race] is a totally completely different problem once more with the excessive downforce, so we’ll see what we will do there.”
However the Dutchman gave shorter shrift to the concept his lowered 69-point deficit to title chief Oscar Piastri made him a championship contender once more.
“I don’t depend on hope,” he mentioned. “However it’s seven rounds left. Sixty-nine factors is lots, so I personally don’t give it some thought.
“I simply go race by race, what I’ve been doing mainly the entire season, simply attempting to do the very best we will, attempt to rating probably the most factors that we will, after which after Abu Dhabi we’ll know.”
