P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull thought Max Verstappen had the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix under control and was more likely to be threatened by Charles Leclerc before Lando Norris’ late challenge for victory. Verstappen l…
At the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Red Bull believed Max Verstappen had the race controlled and was more concerned about Charles Leclerc than Lando Norris. Verstappen secured the lead from pole position and built a comfortable advantage during the pit stop period, distancing himself even further during the second stint, leaving Norris to fend off Leclerc. However, Norris managed his tires well and increased his pace in the final laps, finishing just 0.7s behind Verstappen.
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner noted that Verstappen initially had the race under control in the first stint on the medium tires but faced tire temperature issues on the hard compound, losing performance towards the end. Verstappen had three track limits violations, adding pressure, but managed to maintain the lead despite the challenge from Norris.
The team struggled earlier in the weekend, leading to a lack of understanding of the hard tire that affected their performance in the closing stages. Horner reflected that choosing the hard tire on Friday may have provided valuable information. Nonetheless, he commended the team’s remarkable turnaround from practice to securing pole position and ultimately clinching victory, crediting both the team’s performance and Verstappen’s exceptional efforts.
