P1racenews AI automatic summary:
F1 champion shocked over Red Bull treatment of Max Verstappen
A Formula 1 world champion expressed bewilderment at Red Bull’s decision-making during the Spanish Grand Prix, particularly questioning their call to pit Max Verstappen under a late safety car on hard tires never intended for the race due to their lack of pace. This move resulted in Verstappen struggling to get the tires up to temperature for the restart, losing positions and eventually leading to an incident with George Russell. Mika Hakkinen, a former F1 star, highlighted the confusion in Verstappen’s radio communication after the pit stop, suggesting it was unusual for a driver not to know the tire situation. While it’s uncertain if starting on worn soft tires would have been better, it’s clear the confrontation with Russell could’ve been avoided. Verstappen acknowledged that the tire choice added to his frustration, contributing to the incident. The incident has sparked discussions about Red Bull’s decision-making and Verstappen’s radio communication, raising questions about their impact on the race weekend.
