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Verstappen: FIA decree blunted major Red Bull strength
Max Verstappen believes that the three-stop strategy mandated in the Qatar Grand Prix hindered Red Bull’s strengths in tire preservation. The FIA and Pirelli implemented this strategy due to concerns about the tires, with stint lengths limited to 18 laps on all compounds. Despite winning the race and achieving a Grand Chelem, Verstappen felt that the RB19’s ability to preserve tires was nullified by this decision. He mentioned that the first stint, where Red Bull was strong on the tires, was crucial for his race. However, due to the offset in tire strategy compared to McLaren, he had to drive longer on most sets, which affected his out-laps and made the gap appear closer than it should have been. Verstappen also highlighted that the mandatory three-stop strategy was not ideal for Red Bull, as their car performs well on longer stints. Overall, he acknowledged that the race was demanding and left many drivers feeling tired.
Source: RacingNews 365
