Max Verstappen, the two-time Formula One champion, managed to find the positives in finishing second behind his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez in Azerbaijan last Sunday.
The team’s third one-two finish of the season left Verstappen six points ahead of Perez in the title race. The Dutch driver started on the front row in Baku and took the lead from Charles Leclerc of Ferrari on lap four before pitting shortly before the safety car was called out.
Mexican Perez, on the other hand, had yet to pit and could do so without losing his position, taking advantage of his good fortune and winning the race.
Verstappen said he had been fiddling with the steering wheel settings throughout the race as he searched for a balance that would improve his car’s performance.
He told reporters, “I believe I found a good compromise towards the end of the race since I felt a lot happier with the car and how everything was behaving. So overall, I am content with second place.”
Last year’s race winner added, “Although winning is always the goal, sometimes you require race weekends like these to learn and have a better understanding of the car and what it needs to go faster.”
Verstappen also highlighted how such street circuits, like the one in Baku, reveal details that might not be noticeable on a regular track due to the car’s downforce and general behavior.
He concluded, “So, maybe this was a good day, you know, to go forward.”