Verstappen sees DNF for Leclerc: 'But things can turn around very quickly'

"We didn't really need to push after that either," Verstappen referred to Viaplay about the gap he managed to create in his first stint. "Every time I wanted to push a bit, GP [Gianpiero Lambiase, race engineer] got angry. That just says enough about today, I'm very happy with that. It's a top start to the season, very different from last year."

Whether he immediately handed out an 'uppercut' to the competition? "I'm not that familiar with boxing and how that feels to someone else. This is a top start for us. We were in the situation Charles is in now, which then makes you bitter. Things can also turn around very quickly again, as you saw last year. We have to keep developing."

The start of the season is good, but Red Bull needs to keep working hard every day to maintain this lead. "We also need to investigate what actually went a bit wrong at the beginning of the weekend. Then I am sure we can come out even stronger in front," he concluded.