Former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer suspects that Max Verstappen would have taken fewer points at Sochi Autodrom without an engine change. In the Chequered Flag podcast of the BBC says Palmer that Red Bull and the Limburger were the big winners of the weekend.
The fact that Verstappen eventually had to add a new engine to his pool was almost unavoidable. Russia was deliberately chosen by Red Bull Racing. It is relatively easy to overtake and Mercedes is usually a bit faster than the Austrian team. Had Red Bull not replaced Verstappen’s engine, Mercedes would most likely not have replaced Valtteri Bottas’ power unit. The Finn would have started with an older engine, analyst Jolyon Palmer suspects.
“I think Verstappen got more points than if he hadn’t had an engine change and the race had stayed dry,” Palmer said. The chance that he would have finished third behind Hamilton and Bottas was therefore realistic. “They didn’t think they could beat Mercedes,” the Briton noted. He continues: “The reason they took that engine change in Russia was because they didn’t think they would look good.”
Luck on the side of Verstappen
Everything stood out for Verstappen in Sochi: “He was lucky, yes, but the damage limitation could not have gone better than it did,” says the former Renault driver. “They knew they could get points, but they didn’t expect to win the Grand Prix anyway. An incredible recovery race from Verstappen,” concludes Palmer.
Championship is still open
With a second place in Russia, Max Verstappen has managed to limit the damage for the world championship. The Dutchman had to start from last place after an engine change. With some help from the weather gods, among other things, the title candidate managed to cross the finish line behind race winner Lewis Hamilton. By crossing the finish line in second, the Mercedes driver has indeed taken over the lead in the championship, but Verstappen follows on two points.
.
