Max Verstappen says Red Bull is “just too slow” to challenge Mercedes in normal conditions on pure pace, after he finished third at Formula 1’s Styrian Grand Prix.
Verstappen qualified second in wet conditions at the Red Bull Ring and maintained position through the opening stint of the race, as Lewis Hamilton led proceedings.
Verstappen was eventually overhauled by Valtteri Bottas at the second time of asking as the Finn sealed a 1-2 for Mercedes, leaving Verstappen in third spot.
“We were just too slow so we can do whatever we want: pitting early, late or the same, I don’t think it’s going to change the end result,” he said.
“At the time I thought we were pitting a bit early, and I knew of course that towards the end of the race I was going to run out of tyres but yeah, it is what it is.
“I said also on the radio at one point, never mind, just get on with the job.”
Verstappen kept Hamilton in sight during the early stages of the race but felt the Mercedes driver had pace in hand.
“I think it’s more just Lewis pace-managing,” said Verstappen. “Of course, he knows my lap times, that the gap is not closing or growing.
“I’m just doing my laps. There’s always a bit of margin but if I would push more, Lewis would push more, so yeah.
“You could see once you have to push a bit more and you have the tyres to do so, then I’m just a bit too slow.”
