Red Bull faces potential suspension warning
Barcelona (dpa) - After a fiery outburst from Max Verstappen, things are heating up in the Formula 1 World Championship, with the McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris potentially pulling ahead prematurely. An aggressive tire strategy seemed to be working wonders for the four-time champion, but Verstappen's reckless moves culminated in a thrilling final sprint and a 10-second penalty, leaving him in a thoroughly disappointing 10th place. He also earned three penalty points, bringing his total to 11 within a 12-month period. With 12 points, Verstappen faces a one-race suspension.
When queried about his intentionally collision-laden move against George Russell in the Mercedes just before the end, Verstappen retorted defiantly, "So what?" He stated that the competition was too slow to contend for the title. "It was a pulsating atmosphere," said Red Bull's motorsport advisor Helmut Marko: "There's a certain frustration that can manifest itself in driving style."
There were no recriminations from Verstappen's close ally in the Sky interview. The situation for the team is far too severe to justify finger-pointing. After losing the constructors' championship to McLaren last year, this season also threatens to slip away for Red Bull and Verstappen, with Piastri and Norris dominating the scene. "The gap is becoming increasingly alarming," said Marko. "We are two to three tenths of a second slower. Even Verstappen can't make up that margin."
In the action-packed final phase following a safety car deployment, Verstappen's Red Bull rammed into George Russell's Mercedes and earned a penalty for it. He fell back to the discouraging 10th place. Verstappen was taciturn afterwards: "It's unfortunate about the safety car, I only had hard tires left, they didn't cut it. I had no grip. Up until then it was an encouraging race, a third place was within reach."
Piastri scored his fifth win of the season at the ninth Grand Prix. Teammate Norris couldn't disrupt the Australian's dominance, even a week after his Monaco triumph. "I can't complain, it's been a great year so far, and this weekend was exactly the kind I had hoped for," said Piastri.
Third place went to Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari, with no penalties awarded following his maneuver against Verstappen. Nico Hülkenberg delivered a breathtaking fifth place in the Sauber, even leaving record champion Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari behind after a masterful move.
Race winner Piastri extended his lead. He now has 186 points, with Norris trailing behind at 176. Verstappen earned only one point and boasts 137 - 49 points fewer than Piastri.
At the start, things seemed promising for Verstappen. In the draft of pole-sitter Piastri, he overtook Norris and mounted a pursuit. However, the 27-year-old Dutchman never seriously threatened the 24-year-old Australian. Piastri had already won four out of the eight Grands Prix preceding the Spain race. Norris won two, including the iconic Monaco race.
From the Catalonia weekend onwards, a rule change took effect that allowed front wings to bend even less. Some speculated that McLaren might be the one left in the cold. However, they were mistaken. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari even described the measure as a waste of money: "Nothing has changed."
Initially, Piastri took the lead. Verstappen opted for an early first pit stop. The race in Barcelona quickly morphed into a strategic battle. Red Bull put their faith in Verstappen, gambling with an aggressive tire strategy to pressure McLaren, as he had also outmaneuvered Norris without much resistance.
Verstappen's Aggressive Attack Tactic: Full Throttle with New Tires
The strategy seemed to be paying off. The reigning champion caught up, placing himself ahead of Norris and Piastri following their first pit stop. However, Verstappen was not satisfied with the vehicle's performance. "It's a beast to drive, you can't slow down," he radioed. Soon after, he returned to the pit for a second tire change.
Verstappen's next charge with fresh rubber began. He quickly caught up to and passed Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari. Only Piastri and Norris were ahead of the three-time Barcelona winner. But it seemed it wouldn't work out.
Verstappen's Surprise at the Final Tire Choice
Then, a Mercedes driven by Kimi Antonelli succumbed to a defect, triggering a Safety-Car phase. This allowed everyone a quick tire swap. Opportunity for Verstappen! But he was perplexed to discover he had received the hardest tire compound. There were no other options, the command center informed him.
With six laps remaining, the showdown began: Piastri defended his lead, Norris followed, Verstappen struggled with the hard tires, Leclerc passed. And then the team radioed that he should allow Russell in the Mercedes to pass, as he had gained an unfair advantage earlier. Reluctantly, he complied, hitting the Silver Arrow. "It's just unfortunate that this keep happening. It never benefits him," Russell sighed.
Despite Max Verstappen's aggressive driving, he found himself in a disadvantageous position due to a 10-second penalty and poor tire performance in the racing competition. Meanwhile, the McLaren duo, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, continue to dominate the Formula 1 World Championship, with Piastri closing in on securing the season.
