P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Maximum stint lengths ‘not ideal for us’ – Verstappen
According to Max Verstappen, Red Bull faced more pressure from McLaren in the Qatar Grand Prix due to the maximum stint lengths mandated by Pirelli and the FIA. These restrictions forced at least a three-stop race, eliminating Red Bull’s usual tire management advantage. Verstappen believes that the tire offset between him and the McLarens affected his race, as they could drive longer on most sets. He also lost time on the hard tire due to traffic and a slow pit stop, allowing McLaren to close the gap. Verstappen acknowledged McLaren’s strong performance and stated that Red Bull still had potential, but they needed to maintain a gap to the competition.
Source: Racer
