Verstappen was noticeably wary in his approach on the run down to Turn 1 in Sunday’s ൲race as he attempted to stay out of trouble, having started right in the middle of🔯 the pack in 10th after an engine problem ruined his qualifying. 

A decent launch put Verstappen level with Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren and Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas, but sandwiched between the pair, Verstappen lifted to not risk contact. T🅠he brief loss of momentum allowed Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez to shoot past on the left. 

Verstappen then had a near-miss with Kevin Maܫgnussen’s H🃏aas on the entry to Turn 1, but a better exit, aided by Magnussen being blocked by Ricciardo, enabled the Red Bull driver to pick up two spots on the run to Turn 2.

That left him nin🌊th and running directly behind Perez, who conceded eighth place to Verstappen at the🔯 chicane. 

Verstappen went🐟 on to claim a remarkable victory - his eighth win in 13 rওaces this year - with a clinical performance, despite a full 360 spin.

Asked where the victory ranks am꧅ong Verstappen’s 28 F1 career wins, Horner replied: “I think it’s right up ther꧂e. 

“The start, you saw him, it’s the first time I’ve seen him being cauti🔥ous. He got himself a little bit pinched in the middle of the pack there, but thereafter his pace, the way he managed the issues that he had was phenomenal.”

Explaining his conservative approach to the start of the race, Verstappen, who w🗹as hit by Botta♑s at Turn 1 last year in Hungary, said: “We said to each other that we have to remain calm before the race, and I think we did that. And we made all the right calls in the race.

“It was a bit hectic for me iওn the first lapౠ, getting a bit boxed in and staying out of trouble.”

Verstappen has earned a reputation for being a fiercely aggressive driver, a trait he regularlyᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ relied on during his titanic championship duel with Lewis Hamilton in 2021. 

But this season, Verꦡstappen has also demonstrated a more calculated approach to his racing. 

Verstappen has so far avoided contact with main title rival Charles Leclerc, who the Dutchman leadᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚs by♉ 80 points in the championship.

Such is Verstappen’s advantage, he could win his second world title without picking up a siꦰngle victory across the final nine races of the season. 

“Not really,” said Verstappen when asked if he will change his approach to wheel-to⛄-wheel coꦇmbat given his large points buffer. 

“I think as a team we still want to win more races and that's what we'll definitely🔴 try to do after the bre🐷ak.”