Max Verstappen’s quest for a sixth consecutive Formula 1 race victory faced a moment of uncertainty at the British Grand Prix last weekend due to a “risky” strategy employed by Red Bull.
Despite this hurdle, the team maintained their perfect winning record for the season at Silverstone, with Verstappen securing Red Bull’s first British GP victory since 2012.
While Verstappen’s dominance appeared effortless on the timesheets, the race proved to be a harder-fought battle than most this year.
Early on, he lost the lead to Lando Norris, inciting excitement among the British crowd.
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However, after a few laps, Verstappen swiftly regained his position and settled into a steady rhythm.
The situation took a dramatic turn when Kevin Magnussen’s Haas caught fire, leading to a safety car period.
Seizing the opportunity, Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri made a bold decision to switch to hard tires for the final stint.
Although considered a significant risk, the move paid off as they quickly found good pace on the more durable compound.
In contrast, Verstappen and several others remained on the soft tires, which offered better initial speed but deteriorated faster than anticipated.
Both Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, who trailed in third place, struggled with tire degradation, unable to catch up to Norris in front.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko expressed his concerns, stating, “In retrospect, the tire choice was a risk. Max took good care of the tires, but you could see with him and Hamilton that the soft tires were wearing out.
“We were glad the race was over. Norris needed another lap or three or five, and he would have had a significant tire advantage.”
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The latter part of the race posed more worries for Red Bull than Norris’s initial lead.
Marko acknowledged Verstappen’s attentiveness to tire management in the fast corners during the early stages.
However, once the race progressed, Red Bull showcased superior performance compared to McLaren in all aspects. Marko added, “At the end of the race, we couldn’t have asked for anything more from the tires.”