Max Verstappen has stated that he has unfinished business in this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is looking forward to this weekend’s race in Baku, where the Red Bull driver claims he has “unfinished business” to attend to following last year’s mishap in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Verstappen was leading the 2021 Baku race and on his way to his third win of the season in 2021 when a tyre blow on the main straight sent him into the wall only six laps from the finish line.
However, due to Verstappen’s championship adversary Lewis Hamilton’s incident on the race’s restart, the Mercedes driver also left Baku with zero points, leaving Sergio Perez to win the race for Red Bull.
The Dutchman is currently the championship leader as he sits nine points ahead of Charles Leclerc in the Drivers’ standings, with Sergio Perez a further six points back in third. Both Red Bull drivers are in good form, with Perez winning the Monaco Grand Prix last time out and Max winning three races in a row in Imola, Miami, and Spain.
“I’m looking forward to returning to Baku, we have some unfinished business there after last year,” said Verstappen in Red Bull’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix preview. “It’s a tricky track with big braking zones and a tight run off, finding the best set up for the car will be difficult in terms of making sure we get the correct wing level.”
“It will also be interesting to see if we can make our one lap performance better for qualifying as we’ve been lacking a little.”
Sergio Perez, on the other hand, appears to be in fantastic condition at the moment, having signed a new contract with Red Bull following his Monaco Grand Prix triumph.
“Having my future decided allows me to stay one hundred percent focused on the main goal of winning races and world titles,” said Perez.
“It’s amazing how hard work always pays, two years ago I was without a seat in F1 and today I’m in the best team. I can only say that I am happy and very grateful for the opportunity.”
“Today I think I am in the best moment of my career and driving for a Team that always seeks perfection, which is the perfect match for me and for any driver.”
Perez and his team have a chance to make two wins in a row in Baku this weekend, both this season and over the previous year.
“I am still very excited to think about what we achieved as a Team in Monaco, seeing the joy it brought to my family and my country motivates me a lot,” the Mexican added. “However, we must put the emotion aside and focus on the next race, which is Azerbaijan.
“The Championship fight is really tight, so we need to be totally focused. It was very special winning my first race with the Team in Baku last season, it brought me great joy.”
“I like street circuits because it is where the driver can really make the difference, of course it is easier to make a mistake when you’re trying to go on the limit, but at the end of the day that is what gives you the tenths you need to be competitive.”
