Verstappen buoyed by title lead but concedes Red Bull "couldn't push" in Bottas chase

Max Verstappen insisted he "couldn't really push" during a damp Turkish Grand Prix.

Verstappen started and finished second to Valtteri Bottas as the Finn dominated in Istanbul with the Dutchman eventually finishing 14.5 seconds adrift of the Mercedes driver.

The Red Bull driver was able to take the positives from the weekend after turning a two-point deficit in the standings into a six-point championship lead with Lewis Hamilton finishing fifth.

"It was not easy today," said Verstappen. "The track was very greasy, we just had to manage the tyres the whole race so we couldn't really push.

"It just seemed like Valtteri had a bit more pace and could look after the tyres maybe a bit better as well.

"But I'm of course still happy to finish second because in these conditions it is also easy to get it wrong and you drop back. So overall I'm very pleased."

Enduring a somewhat lonely race, asked what the most difficult aspect of the race was, Verstappen joked, "To stay awake!

"No, it was all about just managing the tyres. So you were never pushing to make it to a certain number of laps and then you box for another set.

"But I'm happy to be on the podium."

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