Similar to at Monza, Max Verstappen stormed to a dominant Components 1 win on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with the reigning world champion as soon as once more enjoying an even bigger function than simply the driving, in line with Pink Bull group principal Laurent Mekies.
In Italy, Verstappen insisted on utilizing an especially low-downforce set-up, regardless that some senior group members thought operating barely extra wing could be higher. In Azerbaijan, it wasn't concerning the automotive set-up, however extra concerning the technique.
Verstappen was the one top-four driver on the Baku grid to start out the race on laborious tyres – and that, Mekies says, was largely right down to the Dutchman's insistence.
“We checked out Saturday's qualifying session with the six or seven crimson flags,” the Frenchman associated.
“Clearly, right here there's a lengthy historical past of many, many security automobiles. Max had a really clear concept that it'll develop into a race the place you simply drive, ready for the protection automotive. You attempt to wait so long as you may till the protection automotive comes, as a result of in any other case any person goes to have an affordable pitstop and it is not going to be you.”
Verstappen's ideas, in line with Mekies, went again to a selected a part of the Italian GP: “In some respects Monza was a bit like that as nicely, the place all of us tried to increase. During Monza, for those who recall, we needed to pit as a result of our tyres have been just about gone. At the moment we now have been uncovered for a couple of laps to a security automotive.”
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Mekies refers to the truth that Lando Norris ran longer than Verstappen in Italy, and through these laps McLaren might have benefited from a possible security automotive. It by no means got here, however Pink Bull – and Verstappen particularly – needed to keep away from such a situation in Baku. “Max has pushed lots for that,” the group boss added.
Ultimately, Pink Bull went together with it, though Mekies confused the strategy did carry some dangers: “It does not come without spending a dime. It does not come without spending a dime on the race begin. And it does not come without spending a dime as a result of it is exposing you throughout different elements of the race. If a security automotive occurs on lap 10, you'll not discover that humorous you probably have began on laborious.”
Mekies famous that in such a state of affairs, those that began on mediums might swap to hards, whereas the reverse – pitting and operating to the top on mediums – is theoretically trickier, regardless that in observe it turned out to be doable given the lifespan of Pirelli's C5 tyre.
In the end, Verstappen's imaginative and prescient carried probably the most weight behind the scenes. “He had very, very clear in his thoughts that he needed to take advantage of the tempo of the automotive and disappear with the hards, and he has achieved precisely that,” Mekies stated.
However, Mekies was reluctant to say that Pink Bull's race tempo in Baku was considerably higher than the opposition.
“In comparison with George Russell, I believe it is comparatively doable to learn,” he analysed. “I believe the hole was in all probability a few tenths [per lap], however nothing greater than that. In equity, additionally in qualifying – possibly not Q3, however qualifying typically – they have been not more than two tenths away.”
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Photograph by: Andrew Ferraro / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
McLaren's race tempo is difficult to guage. The papaya group had a messy weekend in Baku, however Mekies believes its true pace by no means actually confirmed on Sunday.
“McLaren is way more troublesome to learn, as a result of they weren't discovering any free air,” he identified. “We've seen them extraordinarily quick sooner or later on Friday morning, Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. We'll in all probability by no means know what the actual tempo is within the race, however there's actually no room to calm down for us.”
