Max Verstappen recalled his realisation that victory in the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix was a possibility amid McLaren’s surprising strategy call.
The Red Bull driver pitted under a Safety Car, which was called on Lap 7, enabling some form of flexibility in strategy, given the 25-lap maximum tyre window.
McLaren opted to leave both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris out, with all other teams calling at least one of their drivers in.
It ultimately cost McLaren considerably, with Verstappen then taking a second stop on Lap 32 for Hards, which saw him last to the end, taking victory.
After the race, Verstappen revealed that his initial focus was on getting his stop right, but afterwards came the realisation that, with no McLarens in sight in the pit lane, the win was on.
“Well, I mean, first of all, when they called me in, I had to look and remember that we were going into Lap 7. So I was like, ‘OK, now we can go to the end’,” admitted to media including Motorsport Week.
“So then, yeah, I was a bit surprised once I did the whole pit stop. Because, I mean, when they call you in, you’re focused on the box and making sure you’re not in trouble with releasing and whatever. So when I came out of the pits, I was like, ‘OK, I think this is a very good opportunity now for us to win the race’.”
Verstappen’s boss, Laurent Mekies, conveyed his surprise at the McLaren call, corroborating his chief strategist Hannah Schmitz’s post-race revelation that such a move was pre-planned.
“Yes, we were surprised,” he explained to media including Motorsport Week. “It’s always easy to say after the race what is the right strategy, but we were very surprised, because on our side we had sort of pre-decided that it will be the first lap we can take, and we will take it.
“I cannot judge for what was their thought process at that moment. But yes, we were very surprised.”
Ferrari also admits surprise at McLaren decision
Such was the magnitude of McLaren’s decision, given that it turned out to be a significant blunder, the issue was discussed up and down the paddock in the immediate aftermath of the race at the Lusail International Circuit.
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur was also quizzed on the topic, and, like Mekies, was surprised by how McLaren failed to act on what, to him, felt like a strategic open goal.
“Honestly, I didn’t understand because for me it was quite obvious to pit lap seven if there was a Safety Car,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“Now perhaps they were just scared to block each other with the traffic into the pit lane and to give an advantage to one of the two cars.
“But honestly, I don’t want to comment, I have enough to do with my car and my team, and ask the question to Zak.”
The respective calls by both teams could have severe ramifications for the Drivers’ World Championship, with Verstappen now just 12 points behind Norris, forcing a three-way title decider in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
READ MORE – Max Verstappen takes F1 title to the wire as Red Bull outsmarts McLaren in Qatar GP
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