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Verstappen takes this positive from Zandvoort: "We got it right as a team"
- Cas van de Kleut
Despite the worrying gap to McLaren, Red Bull will look back on something positive at Zandvoort. At the start of the race, Max Verstappen grabbed the lead at the expense of Lando Norris, who was slower to get up to speed. The Dutchman spoke about his positive start after Sunday's Dutch Grand Prix.
Helmut Marko said after qualifying that Verstappen could benefit from a possible lacklustre start from Norris, and his prediction became true. Even before Turn 1, the Dutchman was leading the Grand Prix. Norris eventually managed to overtake the home hero later on in the race, pulling out a gap of over 22 seconds.
Verstappen content with his start at Dutch Grand Prix
Verstappen started on the right side of the grid, as did George Russell and Charles Leclerc. They too both grabbed a spot at the start. When Verstappen was asked if that right-hand side possibly brought an advantage, he replied, "I don't think so. I think the start was all right. I had a bit of wheel spin as well, but I think Checo had a good start as well, also on the left-hand side."
The Dutchman continued, "So I think, yes, we just got it right as a team, probably also, and we have been doing quite well with that in most races this year. But it's also, I think, a bit more difficult to predict because the weather this weekend has been raining, and drying, so you don't really get a consistent grip read. So sometimes, yes, it's a bit of a hit or miss." The three-time world champion concluded.
Verstappen's getaways are something he needs to continue nailing in Red Bull's quest to hold off Lando Norris and McLaren in both world titles.
This article was written in collaboration with Toby Nixon
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