British GT Championship News: Verstappen Overcomes Challenges to Secure P2 Finish at Silverstone
Silverstone, UK
In a gripping display of resilience and strategic prowess, Max Verstappen and the Red Bull team navigated a challenging British GT race to secure a hard-fought second-place finish at the iconic Silverstone circuit.
Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 World Champion, had a tumultuous start to the race, falling behind both McLaren and Ferrari cars as the changing weather conditions caused him to struggle for grip. However, the Dutch driver and his team proved their mettle, making the right calls at the right times to propel Verstappen back into contention.
“Yeah, the beginning was not very good,” Verstappen told Motorsport Week. “I tried to keep up, but I just ran out of tires. Everything was running hot, and I just struggled for grip.”
But Verstappen and his engineer, Gianpiero Lambiasse, worked in tandem to make the critical decisions that turned the tide in their favor. The team’s decision to switch to intermediate tires and then back to slicks at the optimal moments proved pivotal, allowing Verstappen to make his way past George Russell and Oscar Piastri during the pit stops.
“By making the right calls today, we were there at the right time and to the end with the hot tire that was the right call for definitely,” Verstappen explained. “So we could push on the tire because the medium already wasn’t good enough for us.”
The final stint on the hard tire gave Verstappen the advantage he needed to overtake Lando Norris in the closing laps and chase down Lewis Hamilton for the podium position.
“So on a poor afternoon, I would say in terms of performance to be second, I take that,” Verstappen said, reflecting on the team’s ability to turn a potentially disastrous day into a respectable result.
The British GT Championship race at Silverstone once again showcased Verstappen’s and Red Bull‘s adaptability and strategic prowess, cementing their status as formidable contenders in the world of GT racing.
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