Max Verstappen secured a crucial victory at the Baku Grand Prix, taking some calculated risks along the way. But is it enough to reopen the drivers’ championship battle?
The Dutch driver dominated the race from start to finish, with George Russell and Carlos Sainz Jr. never truly challenging his lead. When the cars lined up on the Baku starting grid, Max Verstappen surprised everyone with a seemingly bold decision. Starting from pole position, the Red Bull driver opted to begin the race on hard tires rather than the medium compounds chosen by most of the front-runners. Why did Verstappen go against the conventional strategy?
A calculated risk
The Baku street circuit proved to be highly treacherous throughout the entire weekend. Many drivers, even experienced ones, made several mistakes. Choosing the hardest tire for a pole-sitter is unusual, but Verstappen explained his reasoning to the press, including F1inGenerale, highlighting the potential risks of this decision.
“Well, not so much to see how good they would be, but rather for the start or if a Safety Car had come at the wrong time. So, once we passed 20 laps, I was a bit more relaxed, but yes, it was a risk,” Verstappen admitted.
Despite knowing the gamble, Verstappen added: “I think it’s quite unusual, obviously, to start from pole with the hardest available tire. But we did it, and I believe it was the right choice. We had said before the race: one way or another, one of the two strategies will work, and we’ll leave the weekend satisfied. Fortunately, we picked the right one.”
Impact on the championship
With today’s victory, Max Verstappen has reduced his gap to Oscar Piastri to 69 points. With seven races still remaining in the season, can the championship fight be reopened? Verstappen tempers expectations: “I mean, I don’t rely on hope. But seven rounds remain – 69 points is a lot. So personally, I’m not thinking about that. I just take it race by race, which is basically what I’ve done all season – just trying to do the best we can and score as many points as possible. And then after Abu Dhabi, we’ll know.”
Verstappen’s strategic gamble in Baku demonstrates not only his skill behind the wheel but also the Red Bull team’s confidence in making unconventional decisions under pressure. As the championship battle continues, each calculated risk could be pivotal in the fight for the title.
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