Max Verstappen says Red Bull can’t be disappointed with its result at the Hungarian Grand Prix, underlining that Lewis Hamilton was faster in race trim.
Verstappen led from pole position but remained under pressure from Hamilton through the first stint of the race, with Red Bull electing to pit first.
Verstappen retained the lead when Hamilton stopped seven laps later but on fresher tyres the Mercedes driver surged onto the rear of the Red Bull youngster, and challenged for top spot.
Verstappen held on at that point but Mercedes opted to pit Hamilton again, and on fresher Medium tyres the Briton reeled in his opponent and took the lead with a few laps left.
“It wouldn’t have made sense [to stop again] because then I would have been behind and then the race is lost anyway,” said Verstappen.
“The only option from me was then to continue and that’s what we did.
“I started to run out of tyres trying to keep up with Lewis’ pace on those Medium tyres, trying to keep within a second but it was almost impossible and then I ran out of tyres.
“You could see it coming, so for me it was not a big disappointment once he passed me, it was just a normal thing to happen.
“But anyway, we have to be realistic and he was just clearly faster today.
“Always I think I was struggling a little bit more for grip than him, he could keep the pressure on and of course when you are in second, you can gamble to do a two-stop.
“It was always about trying to cover him to stay ahead.
“If you do a two-stop worst case scenario you stay second, and best case you overtake me and that’s what they did today.
“We pitted at the end as well so then of course happy to do that fastest lap. It’s still one point and hopefully at the end of the year it will matter, we will see.”
Verstappen’s podium, and fastest lap, means he is now just seven points behind Valtteri Bottas in the battle for second place in the standings.
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