Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo took a double podium for the Red Bull team in the Japanese Grand prix. The Dutch driver was second, while his teammate crossed the finish line in third place.
“This is my second year in a row on the podium here at Suzuka; it seems like Japan is a good place for me!”, Verstappen commented.
“Our car was very competitive in the corners but it meant we lost a bit on the straights and weren’t ever really able to have a proper go at it. The degradation on the soft was really good. And the balance felt good throughout the race, which is really positive in terms of finishing the season strongly. Lewis [Hamilton] had some difficulties when he had traffic in front but at the end of the day he was controlling it.”
“The traffic gave me a bit of a chance to close up and potentially have a chance to take him. It was a bit of a shame the back-markers came into play but I don’t think it made a big difference, once Lewis had clean air I would have struggled to pass him. It just seems that the Mercedes struggle when following other cars closely.”
“In the race, it seems we are always more competitive than Qualifying, so I’m looking ahead to Austin and hoping we can carry this form on and get another podium. Two podiums in two weeks mean I leave Asia extremely satisfied and excited to get back in the car in the US and try and extend this streak.”
Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo took a double podium for the Red Bull team in the Japanese Grand prix
Ricciardo was third at the start and third at the chequered flag, extremely pleased with his first Suzuka podium.
“Overall the race was a thumbs up for me. At the start of the weekend, I said I wanted to get a podium in Suzuka and I got it. I can’t go back on what I said and wish for more, but I need to look back at the start and the actual getaway as that was what cost me the place to Max and [Esteban] Ocon. The first 100 metres could have been better but otherwise, the race was pretty lonely in third place.”
“As fun as this track is on one lap it’s tricky to do much in the race and very hard to follow another car. In the end, it was actually nice to have some pressure from Valtteri [Bottas] to keep me pushing all the way to the finish. I felt confident I could keep third place in the closing laps if I drove cleanly and hit all the apexes, which is what I did. I’m happy to spray some more champagne, it’s my ninth podium of the season which is a new record for me and to be in the position that we are now makes me pretty happy.”
“It’s really encouraging for the team to have another double podium”
“Both cars are getting to the finish reliably now and we are also quick. We should be able to put up a good fight in Austin and Mexico and if we can keep this rolling into 2018 then absolutely we should be looking pretty good. All I have to say now is arigatooooooooo Japan.”
When @LewisHamilton leaves his phone unlocked on the podium…
??? @danielricciardo #JapaneseGP ?? @F1 pic.twitter.com/pCJTsda7pW
— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) October 8, 2017
Don’t leave your phone unattended with @danielricciardo around ?
(See @LewisHamilton’s Instagram Story) pic.twitter.com/3DYINQp4EU
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 8, 2017
