Verstappen "lucky and unlucky" with second after Mercedes F1 tyre punctures

Having run in third place throughout the race Verstappen moved into second on lap 50 when Bottas slowed with a tyre failure. With no threat from behind and Hamilton too far in front, he immediately pitted for fresh tyres so he could have a shot at the fastest lap point on the 52nd and final lap.

However on that last lap Hamilton suffered a similar failure to Bottas and also slowed to crawl to the chequered flag with three functioning tyres.

The Mercedes driver managed to bring his car safely to the finish to win by 5.8 seconds from Verstappen, meaning it was clear that had the Red Bull driver not pitted for new tyres late on, he would have won the race - but he did pick up the fastest lap point to provide some consolation.

Verstappen initially made his frustration clear on the radio but he quickly calmed down and recognised that it had been a good outcome, telling his team: "We did good, not bad, good points, good podium."

He then added: "We did well. Just, shit! We should be happy with second, and when you have this... Anyway, it's still good."

In the post-race interviews Verstappen repeated that he was happy with second place.

"I mean, it's lucky and unlucky, you know," he said. "They [Mercedes] were of course in the race too quick. And yeah, the tyres at one point they didn't look great, with like 10 laps ago, so I was already on the radio [to say], 'guys, you know, the right front doesn't look very pretty.'

"Then of course Valtteri got a puncture. I came on to the radio like I'm gonna back it out. Then they boxed me to go for the fastest lap.

And then of course, unfortunately Lewis got a puncture himself. But you know, I'm very happy with second. it's a very good result for us again."

"[Before the race] it was pretty lonely. I was just trying to manage my pace, trying to look after the tyres."