Max Verstappen has disclosed that he took a “risk” during the latter part of the British Grand Prix regarding when he switched back to slick tires after a period on intermediates.
Despite falling to fifth place at one point during the 12th race of the F1 season, the reigning champion made a strong comeback to finish in second place.
Verstappen faced difficulties in the dry conditions and had to “survive” through the rain before showing his true pace in the final laps.
Verstappen shared with selected media, including RacingNews365, that he was cautious because he wasn’t feeling comfortable. “It didn’t feel right, so I decided to stay safe and try to get through it,” he said.
Once he switched to intermediate tyres, Verstappen began to take more risks, the most significant being on lap 39 when he followed Lewis Hamilton into the pits for slick tyres.
He was in regular contact with his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, discussing weather conditions and the necessary tyre changes. Verstappen explained, “I constantly discuss with GP using the radar; he provides me with all the information he has. As a driver, if you feel it’s time to switch tyres or stay on slicks, you need to communicate that over the radio.”
