Red Bull’s Max Verstappen says he feels “lucky and unlucky” at the dramatic finish to Formula 1’s British Grand Prix.
The majority of the 52-lap encounter was a sedate affair up front, with Verstappen holding a lonely third, behind the dominant Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.
But with three laps remaining Bottas suffered a tyre failure, tumbling down the order, promoting Verstappen into second – who then pitted.
Halfway around the final lap Hamilton then suffered a left-front tyre failure and had to back off in order to continue driving.
Verstappen, on fresh tyres, chased down Hamilton but fell short by 5.8s as the Briton held on to secure victory in one of the most dramatic finishes in Formula 1 history.
“Yeah it’s lucky and unlucky you know,” said Verstappen.
“Of course in the race too quick and the tyres at one point they didn’t look great with 10 laps to go and I was already on the radio like ‘guys the right front doesn’t look very pretty’.
“Then of course Valtteri got a puncture and I came on the radio like ‘I’m going to back it out’, then of course they boxed me to go for the fastest lap.
“Then of course unfortunately Lewis got a puncture himself; I’m very happy with second it’s a very good result for us.”
Verstappen’s runner-up position means he is now just six points behind Bottas, who failed to score after his late issue.
