Max Verstappen did not hold back after the Austrian Grand Prix, describing Red Bull’s performance as having ‘done a lot wrong.’
Verstappen’s post-race analysis pointed fingers at Red Bull’s pit stops during the Austrian Grand Prix. He described them bluntly as a ‘disaster,’ stating the team ‘gave up free lap time,’ which allowed Lando Norris to re-enter the race for the lead. This strategic blunder led to a dramatic battle near the race’s conclusion between Verstappen and Norris, resulting in both cars sustaining punctures after a collision. While Norris was ultimately forced to retire, Verstappen managed to return to the track and secure a fifth-place finish.
The three-time World Champion reflected on the race, admitting that Red Bull’s rare slow pit stops played into their struggles. He emphasized the importance of revisiting their strategy for future races, stating, ‘From our side we have to look at the whole race because I think we did a lot of stuff wrong.’ Verstappen lamented not capitalizing on their initial strong position and stressed the necessity of executing better in upcoming events.
Christian Horner, team principal at Red Bull, offered his perspective on Verstappen’s criticism. He acknowledged the frustration his driver might feel following a difficult race and highlighted the element of ‘hindsight’ in race strategy. Horner explained that their decision to extend a pit stop was a tactical move to cover Norris, even though Red Bull had the pace advantage. He mentioned, ‘Whilst we were quicker than Norris, it makes sense to do that because, you get unlucky with a Safety Car, you lose track position.’
Despite the disappointment of missing out on victory, Horner remained optimistic about the team’s performance. He pointed out that Verstappen extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship and maintained a robust standing in the Constructors’ Championship. Horner remarked on the overall strength exhibited, ‘The pace of the car has been very strong this weekend. We’ve had two poles, he’s led all but nine laps of the race.’
While the Austrian Grand Prix did not end in the victory Red Bull had hoped for, both Verstappen and Horner are focused on learning from their mistakes to ensure stronger performances moving forward.
