Red Bull driver Max Verstappen was gracious after finishing second at the Spanish Grand Prix yesterday.

The 22-year-old was tipped by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff as the favourite for this weekend race but lost out to Lewis Hamilton.

The Dutchman started from the third grid but made a lightning start and eventually held off Valterri Bottas to finish second.

He was elated to have split the Mercedes team.

“I think to be able to split them [the two Mercedes] today was very good for us. We clearly didn’t have the pace like Lewis. I’m very happy with second.

See also : Hamilton breaks Schumacher’s record with Spanish GP win

“The start was crucial to get by Valtteri and from then onwards I was just trying to keep my own pace.”

“I expected a little bit more but then quite quickly into that stint I was quite happy with my car and he wasn’t really catching, so then I felt quite comfortable.

“We keep trying to improve but so do the others so we keep pushing!”

Meanwhile, Bottas has bemused his slow start in today’s race. The Fin finished third and admitted his bad start played a major role.

“I think the start was the key point, it was not good enough. I had to push hard to make some ground, and then you struggle with the tyre life. In the second stint I was stuck behind Max and everyone knows how difficult it is to overtake on this track, so in the end I think the start was the bad thing.

“It seems like Lewis was in front, and I think the guys behind me got a tow, and I had no tow. It was pretty tight, it didn’t really work for me, I was pretty sandwiched. I’m disappointed.”

Formula 1 takes a break and will return at the Belgian Grand Prix on the 30th of August.

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