Red Bull didn’t plan to start Abu Dhabi GP on soft F1 tyres
In advance of he dominated Q3 to take pole at the Yas Marina observe forward of Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen experienced originally experimented with to get by way of Q2 on the mediums, the exact same compound his rival ran at that stage to get for the start of Sunday’s race.
But following posting a time that would have obtained him through to Q3 on the mediums, Verstappen locked up at Turn 1 as his operate on the yellow-walled rubber continued and he immediately noted that the established had been flat-noticed on the still left-front.
He consequently pitted and went back out on the softs, which he utilised to best Q2 and then go on to declare a 10th pole of the 2021 year.
When asked if it was often the approach to commence on the softer rubber, which was tracked degrading much far more in the lengthy runs that shut FP2 in contrast to the mediums, which provide better strategic adaptability as properly as extended everyday living, Verstappen replied: “Properly, naturally it was not.
“Because I wished to attempt and begin on the mediums, but I flat-noticed that one.
“But I felt good yesterday on the lengthy-operate also on the softs. So, it’s not definitely a challenging choice to make to then just say Okay, ‘let’s just concentration on the soft’.”
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB16B
Photograph by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Pictures
Hamilton, who was talking alongside Verstappen in the write-up-qualifying press conference, claimed the differing tyre tactics involving the pair was “exciting” and explained he was “usually kind of sceptical of almost everything”.
He additional: “So it will be fascinating to go again and appear at the data and onboard laps. It truly is incredibly rare that individuals lock up in Switch 1.
“But if he really did lock up in Turn 1, then probably irrespective of whether or not we’re in the far better position in phrases of that tyre [will become clear].
“Or possibly they know one thing we don’t and that tender tyre was their approach all the time.
“We struggled a tiny little bit far more on the soft tyre for the long runs. I think we’ve got the proper tyre, but I guess we’ll see tomorrow.”
Verstappen also explained that forward of qualifying he experienced been experience “a little bit on and off in terms of [car] harmony”.
The Crimson Bull autos ran in their low downforce configuration with a skinnier rear wing.
“For qualifying, we built the correct selections,” Verstappen added.
“As quickly as I went into qualifying, I experienced a bit of a improved sensation, but even so [in] Q1 however not ideal, even now wanted to wonderful-tune a several issues.
“But from Q2 onwards it was a bit improved, but of program in Q2 I had my flat spot on the medium established so I experienced to go out on the softs all over again.
“But then in Q3 fundamentally both equally laps [the car felt good]– the previous lap until eventually [Turns] 12-13 I was more or less on the similar lap time. The auto felt rather good in these ultimate two laps.”