P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has detailed the decision for Max Verstappen not to play “tactics” at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies explained why Max Verstappen did not support the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The team opted not to use tactics during the title-deciding race, which Verstappen comfortably won from pole position. Despite Norris finishing in third place and beating Verstappen to the championship by two points, McLaren effectively neutralized the threat by starting Piastri on hard tires. Mekies commended McLaren for their strategic move and admitted that Red Bull did not anticipate it. Ultimately, Red Bull chose to stay out and maximize their advantage to focus on winning the race, rather than engaging in tactical maneuvers. Mekies noted that while the team had considered other options, they ultimately decided to stick to their original plan and focus on controlling their own race.
