Max Verstappen explained that problems with his Red Bull late in the Austrian Grand Prix denied him the opportunity to clinch a home race victory for his team.
The four-time F1 drivers' champion applied consistent pressure to winner George Russell, but was unable to get into striking distance in the dying moments, whilst he had to hold off the second Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli.
It was a strong recovery driver from fifth on the grid for the 28-year-old, having crashed heavily in the final stages of qualifying, right when he looked to be in the hunt for pole position.
The Milton Keynes-based squad took responsibility for that shunt, and Verstappen put together a spirited fight back across the 71-lap race at the Red Bull Ring.
Having engaged in a pair of dazzling duels with old adversary Lewis Hamilton in the opening phases of the grand prix in Spielberg, the Dutchman settled into the groove and started to hunt down Russell ahead.
However, in the scorching sun of the Styrian Mountains, he had to settle for second place, 1.6 seconds behind the Mercedes, to clinch his best result of what has proven to be a difficult campaign for Red Bull.
"It was a very good race for us," the 71-time grand prix winner said to David Coulthard after getting out of his RB22.
"The first few laps were quite fun, and then it was basically just trying to manage all your tyres, and honestly, I think the car was in quite a good window for, I would say, half of the race.
"And then we just picked up a few, let's say, issues with the car, which then prevented me from basically finding that nice rhythm.
"But still to be second, that close to a win, I think, is extremely positive for us. So, in that sense, for sure, I'm very happy."
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