Max back in Spielberg: 'Preparations felt good'
Published on 29 June 2023 by Stefan Meens
Ahead of this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen addressed the gathered media at Thursday’s press conference. The race at the Red Bull Ring marks the first in the Styrian mountains since the passing of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz. Max reflected on the occasion saying: “We’ve had a few races without Dietrich by our side, but we have to learn to live with that. We race to do him proud and to continue his legacy”.
We love being here in Austria, also because it’s our home race, so we really want to win”, said Max before explaining the challenge of taking on the Red Bull Ring. “It’s the undulation and camber in the corners. Because there are only ten turns, a small mistake can make a big difference. You really need to nail the perfect lap, which adds a bit of pressure.”
Looking ahead to the weekend, Max does not want to make any predictions. “What we did in preparation felt good and we’re usually pretty strong here, so hopefully it’s like that this weekend. It’s a sprint weekend so a lot of things can go well or a lot can go wrong. It’s always pretty hectic here so we’ll have to wait and see.”
Max’s win at the Canadian Grand Prix a fortnight ago, has brought the Dutchman’s tally up to 41 Grands Prix victories in his F1 career. “When you’re fighting for a championship, you sometimes think ‘that’s another one’. But if you’re not in that position and can only occasionally have the opportunity to win a race, I think it does feel a bit more special.”
Over the last few years, the Austrian Grand Prix has attracted a lot of the Orange Army, ready to cheer on Max, who enjoys and appreciates the fan support. “Enjoy the race and the weekend and don’t drink too much. It’s great to see all the fans and the orange around the track. No matter what stand you’re at, you can see a lot of the track, which makes this circuit unique.”
Despite several circuits now featuring Max Verstappen grand stands, the reigning champion does not take the support for granted. “I’ll never get used to it. It’s always great and impressive to see all that orange. Every time I leave the pits and during the race I see the fans.”
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