Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has explained that a failed “risk” ahead of qualifying for the Formula 1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix led to Max Verstappen’s meteoric pits-to-podium drive in the race.
The Dutchman’s weekend at Interlagos looked in tatters by Saturday afternoon, after a dismal showing in qualifying that saw him manage only 16th.
With team-mate Yuki Tsunoda also out, it condemned the Milton Keynes-based squad to its first double Q1 elimination since 2006.
It led to the team opting for a make-or-break move of an engine change, and subsequent revisions to the car, which is believed to have included fitting the Mexico-spec floor.
This ultimately lead to Verstappen taking a pit lane start, but despite that, and an early puncture, the changes to the car saw him leap through the field, finishing third.
After the race, Mekies explained that Verstappen’s “sensational drive” came about after a miscalculation with the car’s performance after its wretched qualifying showing, but praised the “spirit” of the team for taking the failed risk.
“The simple truth is that we were not happy with where the car was in terms of balance and driver’s feeling after the Sprint Race,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“We had finished P4, but it was effectively a P5 without Oscar’s [Piastri] stoppage.
“Nobody wanted to settle for a car that would have been sub-optimal. We felt the optimum window was not where we were.
“We tried our only car at that moment [Verstappen’s] to change it before the main qualifying. We obviously got it wrong, but it’s the way we go racing. We take risks and if we don’t take that amount of risks, we don’t think we’ll be able to win.
“So we took that risk. It didn’t work. It’s painful. We got the quali wrong. That’s what it is.
“But again, we have taken a lot of these risks in the past few months. I insist it is the way this team goes racing. That’s the spirit in Red Bull Racing.
“The car was alive today, that’s the most important thing. The car was probably good enough to fight for the win today. That’s what we’re after, after the relatively average result of the Sprint.”
Mekies coy on the Red Bull changes that saw Verstappen complete comeback
The difference between the RB21 in qualifying and the virtual rocket ship Verstappen was piloting in the race made it seem like the World Champion was driving two completely different cars.
It has been speculated what exactly the team did to the car that caused such a change of trajectory in its performance, but Mekies was coy on what exactly was done to overhaul its lack of competitiveness from qualifying.
“I’m not sure I would have a big interest to elaborate,” he said, “but let me put it this way.
“I don’t think it’s a secret that our window is narrow and it’s difficult to find that window for a given track layout and for a given set of circumstances and conditions on the track layout.
“We have been fighting to find it this weekend and eventually we did. It does not mean that you start Las Vegas with a magic set-up in the car.
“It’s a question we have to fight every weekend – and we’ll try to have it a bit sooner next weekend.”
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