P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen starred on Sunday at the Brazilian Grand Prix, rising from the pit lane to a P3 finish.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella expressed relief that Red Bull chose not to take a risky strategy to win the São Paulo Grand Prix. Verstappen, starting from the pit lane, had to make an early pit stop due to a puncture and later cycled to the lead after his second pit stop. A potential showdown for the win was set up before Red Bull pitted Verstappen for a third time, ensuring a podium finish with a switch to the soft compound. Stella mentioned that the high level of tyre degradation made catching up to Verstappen a concern, but acknowledged Red Bull’s strategic decision. Despite Verstappen’s challenging start, Stella believed that without the qualifying setback, he would have been a strong contender for victory.
