The risk is the only way to keep believing
This approach is fully shared with the four-time world champion and naturally involves inevitable risks. Verstappen and the team know that to keep the world championship flame alive, they cannot overcalculate. While Ferrari continues to show gaps in execution, Red Bull’s overwhelming superiority across all three segments of Sprint Qualifying becomes undeniable.
In SQ1 and SQ2, with more cars on track, Max’s primary goal was to set a clean time without interference. In the decisive SQ3 run on the red tires, the Dutch driver took to the track last, following all nine other cars. It was all or nothing—if the session had been neutralized before he completed his lap, he would have started tenth.
Max needed the track in optimal condition, a wildcard to overtake the papaya-colored cars. He pulled off the trick by producing the third-fastest sector, a segment dominated by the MCL39 since FP1. The pole came despite an imperfect performance, showing that track evolution continued to reward drivers minute by minute.
Verstappen must exploit McLaren’s behavioral code
The joy of pole was relatively restrained for several reasons. Firstly, starting from the front at Austin does not guarantee a clear run after turn 1. Secondly, Verstappen acknowledged that the English team might have a stronger pace over 100 km. His real advantage is his ability to intimidate the drivers of the world champion team.
Max is a master of wheel-to-wheel racing, accepting and often exploiting it to the limit. Will Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri risk compromising their weekend in a rough close encounter? The answer is no, unless the Dutch driver opens the door after the lights go out—a scenario that is quite unlikely. This small advantage must be fully utilized.
Running knowing your rivals won’t give gaps
This is racing with the knowledge that title contenders will avoid mistakes from now until the end of the season. To this warning must be added the inexplicable “papaya rules.” Imagine being one of the two drivers of the historic English team: tomorrow and Sunday, at the start, they will have to avoid internal battles, anticipate any bold maneuvers by Verstappen, and constantly check their mirrors.
It is a surreal scenario where Andrea Stella’s team has created a behavioral framework that limits the drivers’ ability to race boldly. Max will exploit this as much as he can, even though this appetizer of the US weekend highlighted just how formidable the two McLaren MCL39s are—undoubtedly more threatening than at Marina Bay.
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