Max Verstappen Credits Strategical DRS Battle for the F1 Victory at Jeddah

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix provided thrills and spills as Max Verstappen emerged victorious after a hard-fought battle. The race kept the fans and teams on the edge of their seats. Verstappen overcame Charles Leclerc in an unbelievable race. Earlier, Sergio Perez started the race superbly. However, a safety car incident following a crash by Nicholas Latifi hampered the chances of his third victory in Formula 1.

On Saturday, Verstappen struggled for grip in the tires during Q3, and finished P4. On the other hand, his teammate Sergio Perez hit jackpot as he took pole and started alongside the Ferrari on the front row. However, Max bounced back in the race and took all the plaudits home. He was jubilant with the victory after a thrilling battle with Leclerc and praised the teams’ strategy.

After the race, Max Verstappen gave his insights on his battle with Leclerc. He revealed the Ferrari were quicker in the corners, but Red Bull had the advantage in the straights. The Dutchman also revealed that Red Bull waited and played the long game to beat Ferrari.

Read More: Max Verstappen Lashes Out at Jeddah F1 Layout Over Dangerously ‘Twisty & Blind’ Sections of Corners

He said,  “After that he was constantly in the DRS and the yellow flags in the last lap, just knowing how much you should left, whether it is allowed or not. It was tough, but really happy we finally kickstarted the season.”

Talking specifically about his DRS strategy, the 24-year-old said, “Yeah, it seems like you know once you get quite close because I think the cars when you get within half a second, you actually can have a good exit and that makes a lot more tricky to pass in the last corner compared to last year. So it’s a lot harder to plan your pass.”

Verstappen takes all the plaudits

The race started in an enticing manner and heated up as Max Verstappen overtook Carlos Sainz in lap 1. The Ferrari driver got a good start. However, he was left vulnerable as the Dutchman overtook him to go into podium places. His teammate Sergio Perez was comfortably leading the race, but Latifi lost balance in his car and crashed into the barriers. As a result, the introduction of a full safety car changed the due course of the race as Ferrari’s bluff tricked Perez into pitting. Meanwhile, Leclerc stayed put and took the lead.

Max Verstappen’s game plan was to play the long game, and it worked to perfection. It led to wheel-to-wheel racing with Leclerc that everyone wanted to see. However, in the end, the reigning Champion finally overcame Leclerc after a series of great overtakes.

Watch This Story – Mad Max: Verstappen’s Angriest Rants on Team Radio

Red Bull and Verstappen bounced back in style after the disappointment in Bahrain. They will hope to carry their momentum as F1 returns to Australia in two weeks’ time.