Max Verstappen says his Purple Bull racing automobile is healthier than it was through the season after profitable the back-to-background Prix for the primary time since June final yr.
Verstappen managed the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and led all laps from the pole, setting the quickest lap in his sixth profession grand slam. He’s the second driver to win a number of Baku races, following his former teammate Sergio Perez.
The victory adopted an equally dominant victory in Italy two weeks in the past, claiming the victory on the greatest margin of the season. Requested if this was his RB21 one of the best of the yr, Dutchman replied in affirming, claiming his sixth pole on the path to his fourth victory.
“With Monza, sure,” he stated. “Monza wasn’t a very sturdy observe for us, so to try this, it was already an enormous plus.
“For me right here in Baku, apart from 2021 and 2022, that is high-quality, however by no means shocking, however the remaining is all the time a bit troublesome. So it was crucial to have a weekend like this.”
- Race Report: Verstappen is one of the best reign in Baku
It wasn’t simply the result of real-life champions. It was additionally about how he was in a position to construct up till Sunday after which perform what he described as a “quite simple” race.
“General, it has been an excellent weekend for us,” he stated. “I am more than happy with how the race progresses, which means that I used to be in a position to go for a really very long time with that first stint. The automobile was doing most of what I wished.
“We principally went out till everybody pited, however then there was only some laps left within the medium, however we cleared some again markers, however it took a little bit of time.
“It is one other nice outcome for us. It’s kind of uncommon. It has been actually shaking backward and forward this season, however not less than for 2 weeks in a row, it has been actually good.”
For McLaren boss Andrea Stella, two races are typically ample. Andrea Stella suspects that an improve delivered to the Italian Purple Bull racing automobile has reset the hierarchy and has as soon as once more made Verstappen an everyday victory contender.
Baku and Monza are two of essentially the most excessive circuits within the calendar. Each are dominated by lengthy straights, however the nook profiles are completely different. Verstappen warned {that a} bigger pattern measurement was wanted earlier than coming to a conclusion about Purple Bull Racing’s return.
“It is onerous to say at this level,” he stated. “However the weekend of the final two races was wonderful for us. Singapore (subsequent race) is one other fully completely different problem.
Nevertheless, the Dutch gave a shorter discount to the concept that he lowered the deficit of title chief Oscar Piastri by 69 factors, making him a championship competitor once more.
“I do not depend on hope,” he stated. “However there are seven rounds left, and I’ve quite a lot of 69 factors, so I am not occupied with it personally.
“I am going to race-by-race, I principally do the whole season, I simply attempt to do the whole lot I can and attempt to get as many factors as I can.
