Max Verstappen and Red Bull deliberately did not use the ‘best’ strategy during the Abu Dhabi GP, but they did use a strategy that she. had a chance of winning but at the same time would also achieve the magical milestone of leading more than 1000 laps during an F1 season.
“When I started the race I knew it was a possibility,” said Verstappen. “From an engineering standpoint, we wanted to try to plan the strategy so that I wouldn’t pit too early.”
Red Bull and Verstappen did not use the fastest strategy, but a strategy in which Verstappen would achieve those 1000 laps in the lead.
We just waited for the others to go to bed. Of course it was to reach that milestone, but it was certainly not the fastest strategy. But I wanted to stay in the lead to reach that number of laps.”
That is why Max Verstappen suggested during the race that Sergio Perez might pit earlier.
“It was to try to lead 1,000 laps this season, I knew it was possible,” Verstappen concluded.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was also full of praise for Max Verstappen’s ‘strategic insight’ to achieve the target of 1,000 laps.
“The level we have reached by winning 21 of the 22 races this season, to lead with Max more than 1 000 laps out of about 1 300 laps this season, to have broken so many records, I really think that we have reached an incredible level,” said Horner.
“I don’t think we even needed a strategist today because he seemed to determine the strategy for both cars today. But as a strategist, Max Verstappen would be much more expensive than our current strategist. His capabilities in the car are extraordinary.”