Max Verstappen wins 70th Anniversary Grand Prix: 'Incredible result'

Published on 09 August 2020 by Kees-Jan Koster

Max Verstappen secured his first victory of the season at Silverstone. In a strategic race, in which tyre degradation played a crucial role, was Verstappen in third position after the start. In the opening phase of the race Verstappen was able to keep up with the Mercedes very well. By staying out for longer before his first stop, the Dutchman took the lead. After his pitstop Verstappen gradually increased his lead to the Mercedes, who were not able to pose a threat during the rest of the race. Lewis Hamilton finished in P2, with behind him Valtteri Bottas in third.

“I did not expect this. We had a good day and I am very happy to have won.”, says Max after the race. “We had good pace and a good balance of the car and we did not have any tyre issues. Everything went smooth, we had a good strategy, and everything was under control. We kept pushing and winning here is an incredible result.”

Max was the only one in the top ten to start the race on the hard tyre compound, which proved highly beneficial. Verstappen explains the choice for the hard tyre: “Last week nobody wanted to start on the softer tyre, so that was not going to be different this weekend. I thought it was a logical choice. I felt we were on the right tyre to start the race and that has proved to be the case.”

Verstappen looks back at the start of the race: “The start was very good. It was very smooth and from there on I was able to do my own laps. After that I tried to put some pressure on the Mercedes, but I could not overtake them. When they went in, I could go even quicker. After the first stint it seemed like we were very good on tyres. With these softer tyres you have to drive very carefully to not damage them, so I think we did very well today. After the stops I was able to drive my own race and even increase the lead up to the end.”

Despite his first win of the season, Max stays realistic with regards to the next showdown in Barcelona: “We have to enjoy today and then in Barcelona we continue and see where we are at. The softer tyres work well for our car, but in general we are still a bit lacking. We are very happy that we won today.

At a warm and sunny Silverstone the fifth race of the season starts. Max has a good start from the fourth position on the grid and overtakes Nico Hulkenberg who started from P3. Sebastian Vettel spins in the first corner. The Ferrari driver is lucky that he is not hit by any of the other drivers and can continue the race in last position.

Bottas, who started from pole, is in the lead after the first lap, followed closely by Hamilton. The Mercedes started the race on the medium tyre compound. Max, who started on the hard tyre, can keep up with the Mercedes well in the opening phase.

Bottas and Hamilton are getting more and more issues with their tyres and in lap fourteen Bottas comes in for his first stop. One lap later Hamilton follows his example, and Verstappen takes the lead. Over the radio Max reports that his tyres are still in good order. The Dutchman even increases his lead, with a gap of more than 20 seconds to Bottas Verstappen comes in the pits in lap 27 for his first stop.

With a new set of medium tyres, Max comes out on track just behind Bottas. On fresh rubber Max immediately mounts the attack and takes the lead from the Finn at Luffield. Over the radio Max is told to push. In lap 33 both Max and Bottas enter the pits, after a faultless stop Max enters the track in second position, two seconds in front of Bottas and eleven seconds behind Hamilton.

Hamilton decides to stay out longer, while Max continues to close the gap to the Brit. In lap 42 Hamilton stops for fresh tyres, and Max takes the lead again. Hamilton falls back into fourth position, but quickly overtakes Leclerc for third.Kevin Magnussen retires in lap 46 with technical issues of his Haas and is the only drop out of the race. Hamilton closes in rapidly on Bottas on his fresher tyres, and overtakes the Finn with only two laps to go.

Max drives unthreatened in the lead to his first victory of the season and ninth win in his Formula 1 career. Behind him Hamilton and Bottas finish in second and third. Charles Leclerc finishes fourth in his Ferrari, behind him Alexander Albon in fifth. The Racing Points from Lance Stroll and Nico Hulkenberg finish in sixth and seventh, while Esteban Ocon, Lando Norris and Daniil Kvyat complete the top ten.

Results Grand Prix Great Britain: