Red Bull Motorsports
F1
Victory! Max Verstappen wins after a Silverstone strategic masterclass
Aston Martin Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen returns to the top step of the podium for the ninth time with a perfectly planned drive, as F1 celebrates 70 years of speed at Silverstone.
For the second time in as many weekends, Formula One gathered at the storied Silverstone circuit in England for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix and Aston Martin Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen scored a memorable victory after making a superb start and executing a perfect race strategy in what proved to be a classic race.
Verstappen qualified fourth and started on hard compound tyres, which proved to be a strategic masterstroke, as it allowed the Dutch driver to run longer than the two Mercedes cars whilst maintaining a superb pace to set himself up for his ninth career Grand Prix victory and Red Bull Racing's first Silverstone win since 2012.
The result saw Verstappen return to the top step of the podium for the first time since last year’s Brazilan Grand Prix and moves him up to second in the F1 Drivers' Championship standings.
Delight from the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing crew as Max takes the win
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With the 2020 F1 calendar subject to the most drastic changes in its 70-year history, it's fitting that the rescheduled championship celebrated seven decades of F1 racing at Silverstone, the place where it all started.
Last weekend's British Grand Prix proved to be a classic, with Verstappen missing out on victory by a matter of metres, as both Mercedes cars succumbed to tyre failures, but the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing driver would not be denied the top prize again.
Back in 1950, when the 26 drivers lined-up for the first world championship Grand Prix race, the layout of the Silverstone circuit, based around the perimeter of a World War II airfield, looked a lot different than it does today, but the spirit and talent on display remains the same as the legacy evolves. No fans were present around the 5.8km circuit, but the tension and pressure was definitely still present.
Starting the race on the slower, but more durable hard tyres, Verstappen made a great start from fourth on the grid, crucially passing the Racing Point of Nico Hulkenberg and setting off in pursuit of the two leading Mercedes cars.
Further back, Scuderia AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly had secured the team's best qualifying result of the year in seventh and the French driver did well to hold station during the opening laps.
Alex Albon fought hard for a strong sixth place
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10 laps into the 52-lap Grand Prix, Verstappen was showing strong early pace on the hard compound tyres and remained in touch with the battle for the lead, trailing Lewis Hamilton, who was running the medium compound tyres, by just over 2.5 seconds. By Lap 13 he was closing up into DRS range.
The tyres feel good mate, it’s all good
Verstappen moved into the lead on Lap 14, as both Mercedes pitted for fresh rubber. The Aston Martin Red Bull Racing driver proved to be dealing with the high track temperatures well and conserving his tyres, running long into the race and maintaining his pace over his rivals.
"The tyres feel good mate, it's all good," reported Verstappen over the radio on Lap 23, as both Mercedes cars looked to be rapidly wearing their new tyres out. In particular, the front right on both Mercedes cars appeared to be struggling and the Honda-powered RB16 proved to be quicker than both Mercedes cars with fresher rubber on.
Pit strategy was key to Verstappen's Silverstone victory
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By Lap 25, Verstappen found himself 21 seconds ahead and a pit stop in hand over Hamilton. The Dutch driver then swapped his hard compound tyres for medium compound rubber on Lap 27, rejoining the race behind Bottas, but quickly regaining the position with a brilliant pass at Luffield. Verstappen swapped his medium tyres for a fresh set of hard tyres just six laps later, on Lap 33.
The key to the race entering the final 10 laps centred on whether Hamilton and Mercedes were basing their race around a one-stop strategy. That proved not to be the case, as the championship leader pitted on Lap 42, handing the lead back to Verstappen, who never looked back.
After a race that proved a fitting tribute to the legacy of 70 years of F1 competition, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing and Verstappen wouldn't be denied the top prize and the No.33 car took the chequered flag to get their first race win on the 2020 season and Verstappen's ninth in total.
Daniil Kvyat was in the points again for Scuderia AlphaTauri
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Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team-mate Alex Albon pulled off some great overtakes to come home in sixth and AlphaTauri's Daniil Kyvat scored a points-scoring top 10 finish, just one place ahead of team-mate Gasly.
