{"id":166014,"date":"2025-09-24T14:52:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T14:52:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/166014\/"},"modified":"2025-09-24T14:52:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T14:52:09","slug":"how-verstappens-engineer-had-him-laughing-on-his-way-to-victory-in-baku-%c2%b7-racefans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/166014\/","title":{"rendered":"How Verstappen’s engineer had him laughing on his way to victory in Baku \u00b7 RaceFans"},"content":{"rendered":"

Max Verstappen<\/a> was so relaxed on the way to his second victory in a row last weekend he shared a joke with his race engineer on the final lap.<\/p>\n

Gianpiero Lambiase referred to the pair\u2019s latest running joke on the last lap as Verstappen accelerated towards turn five \u2013 the corner which claimed his championship rival Oscar Piastri<\/a> at the start of the race.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo risk, no push,\u201d said Lambiase, prompting laughter from the team\u2019s driver.<\/p>\n

The comment referred to another exchange between the pair during Verstappen\u2019s win in the Italian Grand Prix two weeks earlier.<\/p>\n

Once Verstappen secured his position in front of the McLaren drivers at Monza, Lambiase told him: \u201cThat\u2019s seven laps remaining including this one. Gap behind is 18 seconds. You\u2019ve done all of the hard work so let\u2019s just bring this home. No risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Gianpiero<\/a>\u201cNo risk, no push\u201d, Lambiase told VerstappenVerstappen replied with the deliberately contradictory acknowledgement: \u201cNo risk, full push!\u201d<\/p>\n

This, he explained afterwards, was a reference to a joke which had come from his simracing sessions with Team Redline.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a bit of a joke because our engineer in sim racing with Team Redline always says that,\u201d said Verstappen. \u201cHe\u2019s just quite stressed sometimes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I\u2019m in a race, he\u2019s always like: \u2018Yeah, no risk, full push.\u2019 So that\u2019s why I said it.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt was all under control. The car felt nice. The tyres were fine. GP, of course, wants to also just make sure that I\u2019m driving without any risk, and that\u2019s what I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Verstappen also made a similar comment after the race in Baku when team principal Laurent Mekies joined him in the post-race celebrations. \u201cThat was super, super impressive,\u201d said Mekies. \u201cSomebody told us Baku was not your best track.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, there\u2019s always a time to prove people are wrong,\u201d Verstappen replied. \u201cAnd at the same time, no risk, no fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Verstappen\u2019s radio from the end of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix<\/p>\n

Lap: 51\/51 VER: 1\u201944.556<\/p>\n

Lambiase
\nOkay Max, final lap. Mode seven.<\/p>\n

Lambiase
\nNo risk, no push.<\/p>\n

Verstappen
\n[Laughs]<\/p>\n

Lambiase
\nAnother great drive Max. Fabulous work, mate.<\/p>\n

Chequered flag<\/p>\n

Verstappen
\nYes, what an unbelievable race guys! On fire on both compounds. Really well executed. Really, really well done the whole weekend. Another incredible weekend for us so well done to everyone involved.<\/p>\n

Mekies
\nWell done, Max. Well done. You hung on to these hard tyres to make your point, I guess, so that was super, super impressive. Somebody told us Baku was not your best track, but\u2026<\/p>\n

Verstappen
\nWell, there\u2019s always a time to prove people are wrong. And at the same time, no risk, no fun.<\/p>\n

Lambiase
\nWell done we\u2019re into the pit lane.<\/p>\n

Verstappen
\nYeah, good. By the way, the start was quite lovely. That was not bad on that compound.<\/p>\n

Lambiase
\nNot at all, no.<\/p>\n

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2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
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