Verstappen labels P2 finish as "lucky and unlucky" in F1 British GP

Max Verstappen has labelled his second-place finish at the 2020 Formula 1 British Grand Prix as "lucky and unlucky" after he failed to capitalise on both Mercedes drivers' tyre failures.

Verstappen spent the majority of the race at Silverstone running in third behind Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.

The race kicked off on lap 50 when Bottas suffered a tyre failure in the first sector promoting Verstappen into second.

As a precaution, Red Bull opted to pit Verstappen for fresh rubber. Hamilton then suffered a tyre failure of his own on the final lap but Verstappen was too far behind to capitalise after his late pit stop.

Reflecting on the ending to the race, Verstappen said: "It is lucky and unlucky, they were once again too quick. At one point the tyres didn't look great with ten laps to go and I was on the radio to the team saying 'the right front doesn't look too pretty'.

"Then of course Valtteri got a puncture so I came onto the radio: ‘I am going to back off’, then of course they boxed me to go for the fastest lap and then Lewis got a puncture himself, but I'm very happy with second. It's a very good result for us again," Verstappen added.

"I told my engineer to drink, to stay hydrated. It is very important around here. It was pretty lonely, I was just trying to manage my pace and look after the tyres."

Verstappen's second-place finish means he now sits six points behind Bottas in the drivers' championship, 36 points behind leader Hamilton.