P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Plenty suggested Max Verstappen should have deployed a backing up tactic during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen explained why he chose not to slow down the field during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to pressure McLaren. He started from pole position and maintained his lead throughout the race. Verstappen’s decision was influenced by McLaren’s split tire strategies between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Despite stretching his lead and winning the race, Verstappen lost the title by just two points. Norris’ two-stop strategy, along with track layout changes, made it challenging for Verstappen to control the pace. Verstappen commended Charles Leclerc for his efforts to secure a podium finish and noted the difficulty in slowing down the field with the new track layout.
