Max Verstappen believes his decision to stay out on slick tires during late-race rain at the Australian Grand Prix was strategically sound, despite ultimately finishing second.

The dramatic final laps saw both McLaren drivers slide off track in the final sector, with Oscar Piastri stuck on grass for nearly a lap. While Lando Norris pitted immediately, Verstappen opted to stay out on slicks, leading for two laps before eventually being forced to pit.

"When I saw Oscar rejoining, I thought, 'Well, let's stay out,' because it was only those three corners. The rest was still dry," Verstappen explained. The gamble made sense as even if caught by cars on intermediates, they would need to pit again for slicks if conditions improved.

The strategy proved unsuccessful when rain intensified in Sector 2 during his second lap, forcing him to pit. However, Verstappen noted the outcome would have been the same regardless: "If I'd boxed with Lando, it would have been P2. If I'd boxed the next lap, it would have been P2. And the lap that I did box, I was also P2."

Despite pushing Norris to the finish after a late safety car, Verstappen acknowledged McLaren's superior pace earlier in the race. "As soon as the tires started to overheat, we had no chance. McLaren just took off," he admitted, while expressing satisfaction with securing 18 points more than his previous year's result at this track.

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