More Than Strategy: Verstappen’s Difficult Race in Austin

Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen’s third-place finish in Austin was about more than just Red Bull’s strategy.

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Starting from the front row in second place alongside Kimi Antonelli, Verstappen had a chance to fight for victory. But things did not go as planned.

Red Bull opted for a two-stop strategy, while Verstappen also had to deal with engine-braking issues and traffic during the race. He still managed to finish on the podium, but a win was out of reach.

Verstappen’s problems began at the start, when he struggled off the line, an issue he has faced several times this season. He lost second place to Charles Leclerc but managed to take it back with an overtake in the opening lap.

Red Bull’s decision to pit Verstappen on lap 14 marked the start of its two-stop strategy.

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The team fitted another set of soft tyres, while Antonelli, who had started on mediums, was aiming to make just one stop. Red Bull was counting on the extra pace from the fresh tyres, but would it be enough to make up for the time lost in the pits?

Verstappen also began reporting problems with the car, including issues with engine braking and gear shifts. This made an already difficult race even harder, especially when traffic got in the way of his progress.

His second pit stop on lap 32 cost him more time. A slow change of the right-front tyre kept him in the pits for 3.9 seconds, and he rejoined in fifth place on a fresh set of mediums. Antonelli was back in the lead, leaving Verstappen with more ground to make up if he wanted to fight for the win.

Verstappen fought his way back up the order and passed Lando Norris on lap 47 to move into second place. But Leclerc was on fresher tyres and soon caught up with the Red Bull driver, passing him two laps later. Verstappen finished third, after a race in which several factors worked against him. Red Bull’s strategy was part of the story, but it was not the only thing that kept him from fighting for the win.

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Jamile Barcelos

Jamile Barcelos