Verstappen: Red Bull strategy ‘saved’ win

Max Verstappen has paid tribute to the strategy his team put him on in the Brazilian Grand Prix, saying it “saved” his race.

The Red Bull driver won the race after pitting for fresh tyres under the Safety Car and passing Lewis Hamilton at the restart.

“Mercedes was quick again, but I think as a team we did a really good job with the pit stop strategy,” Verstappen said, as per Crash.net.

“I think especially the last one to get the call to get back on the red tyres, that basically saved our race and gave us the opportunity to fight Lewis again into Turn 1. It was, of course, incredible to come out on top again.”

Max Verstappen passed Hamilton for the lead earlier in the race after the Brit and Mercedes pulled off the undercut on the Dutchman, who was blocked in the pits by Robert Kubica,

“I had to keep pushing and all the time with the strategy Lewis pitted a lap earlier so we had to be really on top of our pit stops,” he added.

“I was pushing flat-out on my out lap to be closer because it was my only shot. I was close into the DRS and we knew that we had great top speed all weekend already, so I’m very happy to get past.”

Verstappen’s eighth career win moved him past Charles Leclerc in the Driver’s Standings and up to P3 with one race to go.

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