Max previews condensed Imola weekend: 'Some drivers get up to speed quicker'
Published on 30 October 2020 by Stefan Meens
Prior to the Grand Prix Emilia Romagna, this weekend’s Formula 1 race held at the legendary Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari (Imola), Max Verstappen reflected on his last weekend in Portimao as well as previewing the next GP.
Max was asked how he looked back on his heated radio comments when he collided with Lance Stroll during practice at the Portuguese Grand Prix. “First of all, I never intended to offend anyone, that’s never what I want,” Max said. “It happened in the heat of the moment, when you are driving at such speeds, things like that can happen. I don’t say that the words I chose were the right ones. I know they are not correct.”
“Once again, I never meant to offend anyone. I was swearing at Lance, but then I saw him straight away after and that’s what racing drivers are as well. We can be angry at each other, but in five minutes, when we talk to each other, look each other in the eyes, it’s forgotten.”
“Sometimes things get a bit heated up. From the outside, I never meant to hurt anyone in particular. I don’t think they need to make it bigger than it is. I know that it was not correct. I cannot change it. Of course you learn from it. I will do better.”
Unlike a conventional three-day Grand Prix weekend, only Saturday and Sunday will see track action at Imola after a condensed event schedule was confirmed. Instead of three practice sessions, drivers will now only have one 90 minute session on Saturday morning, before going into qualifying in the afternoon.
“Some drivers get up to speed quicker than others. But if you know that of yourself, you spend more time in the simulator to prepare as best as you can”, said Max who acknowledged that the fastest cars will still be at the front.
“Hopefully, we’ll have a problem free Saturday, that’s important. And hopefully we’ll have a good balance straight away and then we should have a positive weekend.”
It is not Max’ first time racing at Imola. In 2014, the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing driver took a victory in Formula 3. “It’s a beautiful circuit and I have a good memories. I’m looking forward to driving a Formula 1 car there.”
In terms of predictions, Max is realistic: “Third place is our pace currently, if nothing strange happens. It’s not something I can change quickly but we’ll keep making the most of.”
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