P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has explained why he gave pit stop priority to Red Bull F1 teammate Sergio Perez during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Triple world champion Max Verstappen revealed that his radio message to his race engineer during the Yas Marina season finale was regarding the possibility of teammate Sergio Perez pitting before him. Verstappen wanted to ensure that he could lead for 1,000 laps in the season, a milestone he knew was within reach. Despite the tires feeling only okay at that point, Verstappen decided to extend his stint and delay his own pit stop. He expressed his gratitude to the Red Bull team for an incredible year and admitted that repeating the success of the 2023 season will be challenging. Verstappen acknowledged the competitiveness of other teams and emphasized the team’s focus on having a competitive car for the next season.
