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F1 pundits David Coulthard and Jolyon Palmer both revealed their surprise with Max Verstappen’s uncharacteristically poor racecraft during the Sprint race at the British Grand Prix.
Despite being the record holder of the most Sprint race wins in F1 history, Max Verstappen put on a fairly dismal showing during this year’s edition of the 17-lap race at the British Grand Prix.
Starting from P3 on the grid, he was immediately swamped by the likes of Lando Norris and George Russell off the line.
Kimi Antonelli wins the British GP Sprint. Who can stop him winning the Grand Prix?
Then, as he attempted to get himself back into contention for a top-three spot, he looked to be racing quite desperately if his fierce battle with Russell was anything to go by.
David Coulthard agrees with Jolyon Palmer that the British GP Sprint was not Max Verstappen’s ‘finest’ work
As Verstappen locked horns with his regular sparring partner for track position in the Sprint, he nearly lost more than just a few places as he attempted to go around the outside of Russell at turn three.
The Mercedes star quickly shut the door on him, showing Verstappen the outside kerb of the race track as he muscled his way into turn four.
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“That wasn’t actually Max’s finest bit of car positioning there at Village, because he was halfway around the outside,” Jolyon Palmer said on Channel 4’s coverage of the Sprint race.
“You’re always going to be forced out wide, especially by someone like George Russell there, who knows the rules inside out.
“It was never going to work, and it’s now left him with a missed golden opportunity that has instead fallen into the clutches of Charles Leclerc, who’s been able to harvest on this lap.”
Fellow pundit and 13-time Grand Prix winner David Coulthard wholeheartedly agreed with his colleague’s analysis, adding, “Yeah, he’s allowed to do that. Verstappen was banking on the fact that he might give him some space, but he’ll want to come back at him now.”
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Max Verstappen says his British GP Sprint race was a good example of how ‘it shouldn’t be done’
Of course, the four-time world champion was far from satisfied with his race at Silverstone on Saturday afternoon.
Speaking to Dutch broadcaster ViaPlay inside the media pen after the race, Verstappen highlighted how his performance was a prime example of what “shouldn’t be done” during races, also going on to blast the way he started the Sprint.
Fortunately for the Dutchman, he will have another opportunity to score a bigger haul of points during Sunday’s Grand Prix. Next up, however, is qualifying, where he will be hoping to advance on his P3 grid slot for the Sprint.
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