Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen believes he struggled with tire wear at the Austrian Grand Prix, round 11 of the 2022 Formula One World Championship.
Race report: Leclerc beats Verstappen 3 times to win
Verstappen started from pole position at the Red Bull Ring, in front of the orange stands of the fans who came to the circuit to cheer the world champion.
However, after a few laps, it was clear that Ferrari had overtaken Verstappen, as Charles Leclerc could have passed Verstappen three times throughout the race on his way to victory, while Verstappen was satisfied with second place after Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz withdrew.
Read also: Leclerc reveals how he overcame the problem he faced in Austria
Verstappen believes Ferrari’s superior handling and the Red Bull’s high wear rate were the main reasons why Leclerc could not compete in the main race.
Verstappen said: “It was a very difficult day. I noticed, right away, that we were struggling with the tyres, and that struggle was evident with all types of tires.”
He continued: “Honestly, the tire wear was high, and that limited my ability to compete with Leclerc in the end.”
“Nevertheless, despite the lack of speed, finishing the race in second place is good for us on this challenging day.”
He continued: “It was great to see so many fans in Austria. Unfortunately, I couldn’t win against them today, but even so we have to be happy to finish the race in second place.”
P2 ???? Fastest Lap ???? Good effort, @ Max33Verstappen ???? #AustrianGP ???????? pic.twitter.com/mpnANvs4fE
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) July 10, 2022