Max Verstappen’s decision to pit for the fastest lap point at the end of the Austrian Grand Prix, despite Red Bull’s reluctance, has been explained by Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s advisor.
Red Bull race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase had advised Verstappen against pitting for the fastest lap point, as the team deemed the risk of potential complications outweighed the reward, considering Verstappen would only come out a few seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc in second place. However, Verstappen was determined to go for the point.
On Lap 69, Verstappen entered the pits and emerged on a set of soft tires for his final attack. He set the fastest lap on the final lap, securing the additional point and extending his lead over Leclerc to 5.1 seconds.
Marko revealed that there were discussions on the radio regarding the pit stop, and to keep Verstappen satisfied, the team decided to fulfill his request. Marko emphasized Verstappen’s confidence and ease of driving, which has become characteristic of the Dutch driver.
Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team boss, stated that Verstappen’s eagerness aligned with the spirit of late team owner Dietrich Mateschitz, who passed away recently. Horner noted that the pit crew had been performing exceptionally well, minimizing the risk associated with Verstappen’s pit stop.
Verstappen himself didn’t consider the pit stop to be a significant risk. He stated that he saw the opportunity for the fastest lap and wanted to go for it. From his perspective, it didn’t feel risky at all.
Regarding the decision not to pit during the Virtual Safety Car intervention, Verstappen explained that the tires were still in good condition, and the team had calculated that it made sense to continue without pitting. He felt confident in his tire life advantage and gradually closed in on Leclerc and Sainz after overtaking them.
While Verstappen’s decision to pit for the fastest lap raised some eyebrows, both he and the team believed it was a calculated risk worth taking.
