Max Verstappen is looking forward to a well deserved break after a crazy first half of the year ended at the German Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring with a third place for Red Bull Racing.
The Dutchman started the Grand Prix in fourth and managed to get ahead of team-mate Daniel Ricciardo around the outside of Turn one. As Verstappen exited the pits, Nico Rosberg pushed Verstappen off the track. The German was then handed a five second time penalty for the incident.
Verstappen finished the German Grand Prix thirteen seconds back from Lewis Hamilton. He believes it is too early to say how close the Milton Keynes outfit can get to Mercedes AMG PETRONAS by the end of the season.
“We didn’t expect it to be that good this weekend so we definitely maximised the result,” said Verstappen. “Strategy doesn’t always work for you but I took one for the team today and we still finished second and third and in front of Ferrari, which was the main aim.
“Rosberg just braked very late and then didn’t turn into the corner, that incident cost me a lot of time, he pushed me wide and put me in a bad situation. I then let Daniel go by as was the strategy of the team, in the end the most important thing was to score the points and move up in the Constructors’ Championship.
“Finishing only 10 seconds back from Mercedes is very good. It is still too early to say how close we can get by the end of the season as I think they may have some in reserve. It’s good to go on a little break now and spend some time with family and then be ready to go again in Spa and see all the Dutch fans.”
Heading into the three-week Summer Break, Verstappen is sixth in the Drivers Standings with a total of 115 points.
