P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes Mercedes were caught in “no man’s land” when they pit Lewis Hamilton too late in the first stint of the United States Grand Prix.
Mercedes made a costly decision to pit Lewis Hamilton later than Max Verstappen, resulting in a gap that Hamilton struggled to close. While Red Bull and McLaren committed to a two-stop strategy, Mercedes contemplated a one-stop option. Ultimately, Mercedes found themselves in a difficult position and attempted a one-stop before switching to the medium tire for the final stint. However, Red Bull had just enough to hold them off. Additionally, Verstappen had to manage a brake issue throughout the race, which affected his performance. Despite this, he was aware of the gap and focused on managing it.
Source: Crash
