Max Verstappen admits he was left "very upset" by an issue at his second pit-stop during the United States Grand Prix. The Dutchman had been leading from Lewis Hamilton when Hamilton opted to pit on Lap 35, prompting Red Bull to bring Verstappen in one lap later. It turned out to be a slow 11-second stop and this pushed Verstappen down the order. The World Champion was not happy and sarcastically said over team radio: "Beautiful." Despite this, Verstappen managed to work his way back towards the front after overtaking Charles Leclerc and eventually Hamilton en route to his 13th win of the season.
Verstappen reveals reaction to slow pit-stop
When asked after the race what had gone through his mind after the pit-stop issue, Verstappen acknowledged that it was a difficult moment but admitted that the characteristics of the Circuit of the Americas gave him hope for the remainder of his afternoon. "A lot of swear words [went through my head]," Verstappen told media, including RacingNews365.com . "I was very upset. But immediately when you press the pit limiter off, you have to keep your head down and go for it. But it wasn't made easy. "But luckily this track is amazing to race at as well, so it's not like some other tracks where then your race is over. This is a proper racetrack where you can pass. "You see the first time I tried [an overtake] on Charles, this Turn 1 is so wide, but then if he opens up, there are different lines to come back at you. "It's quite tough because the corner is so wide that when you go for the move, sometimes you can't even really picture where the other car is going to be again. "But that makes great racing because it gives you so many different opportunities; pass on the inside or open it up, and then maybe have a cut back. It's a good track."
Verstappen 'proud' of Red Bull team
Despite the pit-stop issue, Verstappen expressed his pride for the Red Bull team, with his victory earning them the Constructors' Championship one day after the passing of founder Dietrich Mateschitz. "I'm sad but I'm also incredibly proud of the whole team and also the way they've operated all weekend," the 25-year-old said. "Of course, apart from the pit-stop but that was a gun failure and these things unfortunately can happen. "But we kept it together and we won also the Constructors'. I'm very proud of everyone also… The people who don't even come to the track, back at the factory, the effort they have put into this car as well this year has been enormous. "And I'm very proud of everyone [in helping] to secure this."
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