Verstappen delivers verdict on DRS usage
Verstappen delivers verdict on DRS usage
Max Verstappen has dismissed calls for DRS to be scrapped by F1 and believes he would not have emerged victorious from his battle with Charles Leclerc without the device at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit incorporated three successive DRS zones which played a part in the enthralling tussle between the Red Bull and Ferrari drivers, with each playing "cat and mouse" to gain the advantage into the final corner.
Verstappen ultimately won out to claim his and Red Bull's first victory of the season but, following the race, the debate was rekindled over whether DRS could be dropped as a consequence of the new regulations allowing cars to battle more closely.
"Well, if I didn't have DRS I would have never passed," said Verstappen. "We are still too sensitive for that.
"Of course, some tracks are easier to pass than others. But for me at the moment, if DRS wasn't there, I would have been second."
When asked to compare the battle between himself and Leclerc in Bahrain to the one they had in Jeddah, Verstappen explained: "Every battle is different but it's just smart racing and good racing.
"[You] just have to deal with it, adjust to it. And it was a lot of fun. It was not easy but a lot of fun."
Verstappen and Leclerc were adversaries in their karting days and on whether the battles in each of the first two races reminded him of those fights, the reigning world champion replied: Well, in go-karting you can rub a bit, you know, with the sidepods and stuff.
"That's unfortunately not possible anymore in Formula cars. But we have done that in the past. I think we are okay."
Daily poll - Have F1's regulation changes made racing better?
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 star hits back at Sky pundit with 'boring old man' jibe
- 30 minutes ago
F1 champion DOUBTS passion of new fans
- 2 hours ago
F1 News Today: Horner and Red Bull saga to reignite as F1 legend OFFENDED by official statement
- 3 hours ago
EXCLUSIVE: Norris and Piastri 'just like what you see on social media'
- Today 13:57
Hamilton form raises Ferrari F1 move fears
- Today 12:57
F1 legend OFFENDED by F1's rejection of Andretti's bid
- Today 11:57
Related news
Red Bull F1 stars offer contrasting F1 advice to next generation
F1 pundit details GLARING Mercedes issue
Bearman reveals F1 LEGEND 'message' sent to him before Ferrari debut
Hamilton hug with Bearman and Tsunoda BLANKS Sky presenter – FIVE things you may have missed at the Saudi Arabian GP
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860