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Max Verstappen came incredibly close to securing a dramatic win at the Australian Grand Prix, finishing just behind Lando Norris. A late safety car intervention, triggered by Fernando Alonso, reset the race and set up a thrilling showdown. Despite falling short, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner expressed satisfaction with Verstappen’s strong performance, particularly in the rain.
A Strong Performance Despite Challenges
Speaking to Viaplay, Horner analyzed the race dynamics and Verstappen’s strategy:
"Good first lap, managed to pass Oscar, but the McLarens at that time in the race were super, super strong and they started to pull out a gap. But then the rain came. I think we made the right calls to get onto the slicks at the right time and then we took a slight gamble to try and get the overcut. Nearly worked."
As the final laps unfolded, Verstappen managed to cut a significant gap to the leading McLaren duo. At one stage, he trailed by 16 seconds, but the restart after the safety car allowed him to close in.
"And then the restart that sat last six laps was so exciting, and Max very, very nearly stole it off Lando in the last two laps. So it was a good start to the season," Horner added.
Horner Sees a Promising Start for Red Bull
When asked whether Verstappen could have overtaken Norris with more laps, Horner remained noncommittal. However, he viewed the race as a strong opening to the season:
"I think it was really encouraging that on race one, we were fighting very hard to win the race. A lot of people didn't predict that. So yes, positive start," he concluded.
Verstappen’s second-place finish meant he lost his record-breaking streak of leading the championship standings. The battle now shifts to the Chinese Grand Prix, where an exciting sprint race is also scheduled.
Race Results (Top 10)
1. Lando Norris (McLaren Mercedes) - 1:42:06.304 (25 pts)
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT) - +0.895s (18 pts)
3. George Russell (Mercedes) - +8.481s (15 pts)
4. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - +10.135s (12 pts)
5. Alex Albon (Williams Mercedes) - +12.773s (10 pts)
6. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes) - +17.413s (8 pts)
7. Nico Hülkenberg (Kick Sauber Ferrari) - +18.423s (6 pts)
8. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - +19.826s (4 pts)
9. Oscar Piastri (McLaren Mercedes) - +20.448s (2 pts)
10. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - +22.473s (1 pt)
