Red Bull strategy revealed: Max Verstappen’s pole with Yuki Tsunoda’s setup | Austin Sprint. Discover how Max Verstappen claimed pole in the United States Sprint Race.

Red Bull insight: Verstappen secures pole using Tsunoda’s setup

Several factors contributed to Max Verstappen securing pole by just 71 thousandths of a second in the Austin Sprint Qualifying. Among them was his bold decision to run last, taking advantage of the track’s full evolution. However, the Dutch driver’s pole was also made possible by a car setup that maximized performance. Red Bull benefited from a carefully planned program during free practice, testing different setups for each driver and ultimately choosing Yuki Tsunoda’s configuration for Verstappen.

The challenge of Austin’s bumps

The Circuit of the Americas is notorious for its uneven asphalt, with bumps and dips unsettling the car through corners and increasing the likelihood of lock-ups under braking. Early in the day, Max Verstappen was unhappy with the car, reporting over the radio at the end of free practice that it was too low and difficult to control: “I need to return to the pits, the car bottoms out too aggressively.”

The world champion later explained in post-qualifying interviews that adjustments were made as they learned more about the track: “During practice, we were fine-tuning the car and trying to understand the circuit. The track became even bumpier, which made driving more difficult, so we continued to make small adjustments to the car.”

Optimizing the RB21 without compromising balance

Red Bull successfully raised Max Verstappen’s RB21 ride height without disrupting the car’s balance. This achievement was made easier by the differentiated setups tested between the two drivers during free practice, giving the team an alternative already prepared. Technical director Pierre Wache explained: “In any qualifying session, we try to maximize the car’s performance by running it as low as possible. During free practice, we tested two types of setups across the two cars and found that Yuki’s setup was slightly better. It helped with the flex in the high-speed corners here, allowing performance without losing efficiency in slower sections.”

Thanks to this strategy, Red Bull was able to give Verstappen an optimal setup for Austin, combining ride height adjustments with Tsunoda’s proven configuration, ultimately delivering pole position in a track full of challenges.