Max Verstappen suggested that maybe he has finally learnt his lesson after multiple incidents in 2018 after producing a mature drive to claim P9 in the Monaco GP.
While teammate Daniel Ricciardo scored pole and eventually the win, the Dutchman was forced to start at the back of the grid for Sunday’s race in Monte Carlo after a crash in final practice caused him to miss qualifying.
But with the words of Red Bull bosses ringing in his ears, the 20-year-old proved he can change as he produced the perfect balance of caution and decisiveness to produce a number of quality overtakes en route to finishing inside the points.
“I think we maximised the result. At the end there was a bit of train from P4 to P9,” Verstappen said. “I don’t think there was anything more we could have done from last.”
His team opted to use a contrary tyre strategy of starting on the Ultrasofts from the back and then switched him to the pink-striped Hypers for the final 30 laps in the hope his fresher, grippier rubber could help him gain more places.
Ultimately, though he came up against Nico Hulkenberg on the same plan and couldn’t find a way by. Regardless, the three-time F1 winner was one of the happier drivers after the race.
“I was enjoying myself out there. Starting last I got two places from the start which was good,” he explained
“I just didn’t want to go to risky and have a crash. I cannot be in that position now. I did everything with a certain margin. I knew if I had taken a bit more risk then I still wouldn’t have got past them.”
He also took time to praise Ricciardo on his win, particularly after learning of the tough circumstances in which he did it.
“I heard he had a problem after the race and of course it is tough,” he said.
“Daniel is a great driver and he did a great job today.”
