Verstappen Explains Why 0.196 Seconds Behind Was Actually a Full Second

Max Verstappen finished second in Baku, 0.196 seconds behind George Russell at the flag. The number is official, it’s in the results sheet, and nothing can change it. Unless, of course, you’re Max Verstappen and decide to explain it at length to the assembled press.

“George suffered from a little bit of boost lag in Turn 15 with the yellow flag… it was always one second,” the Dutchman assured everyone, while the maths on the results sheet quietly kept saying 0.196. Russell, for his part, confirmed the turbo detail: “When I went back on, I had no turbo, so then I had no power.”

Modesty You’ve Never Quite Seen Before

Verstappen even found a way to make the closing laps sound enjoyable, despite losing: “Those last laps were very enjoyable because there was barely any deg.” Enjoyable laps in second place – not a description you hear often from a four-time champion.

There’s a small detail that makes the whole story even spicier: Verstappen started eighth after a qualifying engine issue. Which means the man now explaining why he was actually a full second quicker was sitting in eighth just a few hours earlier – though for that part of the weekend, no explanations have been offered yet.

To Be Fair, Even He Doesn’t Sound Fully Convinced

Verstappen admitted that even without the qualifying problem, passing Russell would probably have been extremely difficult given Mercedes’ superiority through the technical sections, even though Red Bull had the edge on the straights. In other words: he’d have lost the same way, just with a better alibi.

The final result stays exactly as it was – Russell takes his third win of the season, and Verstappen gets the honourable second place and the right to explain boost-lag percentages to anyone willing to listen.

Based on reporting by motorsport.com.