Max Verstappen explains radical Red Bull Dutch GP decision

Max Verstappen has explained Red Bull's decision to start the Dutch Grand Prix on the soft tyres, something no other leading driver did. 

Of the 20 drivers, only Verstappen and team-mate Yuki Tsunoda from 12th started on softs, with the Dutchman coming from third on the Zandvoort grid to use his softer rubber to leapfrog second-placed Lando Norris before eventually falling away to a comfortable third.

Verstappen ultimately came home in second place after Norris retired with an engine failure to maintain his record of a top-two finish at his home GP behind winner Oscar Piastri.

Detailing the decision, Verstappen explained the soft tyre strategy was simply his prefered option after Friday practice.

"That for me felt the best after Friday, so it was planned," Verstappen told media, including RacingNews365. 

"Of course, with the Safety Cars, everyone had to box again to take fresh tyres, but it was all according to plan.

"The start was alright, to be honest, and then I tried to go around the outside of Turn 1, and then into Turn 2. There’s always a lot of sand in that corner from the middle of the track to the edge.

"With the soft compound, I just still pushed the entry and then went a bit sideways heading into Turn 3, but it was all okay."

After passing Norris, Verstappen initially stayed ahead until Norris danced past around the outside of Turn 1 on Lap 9 and disappeared. 

Reflecting on this, Verstappen explained there was "no point" in trying to battle the Briton.

"I still wanted to have a bit of fun out there, and when I got ahead, I just followed my pace, and that meant at one point Lando got ahead again," he said.

"You could see it’s a different league. There’s no point trying to ruin your own race defending really hard or losing two, three laps defending for your life. Unfortunately, there’s no point in that."