How hard-charging Max Verstappen had McLaren worried in Brazil
McLaren boss Andrea Stella has conceded that Max Verstappen’s flying start to the Sao Paulo Grand Prix had the race-leading team worried early on.
Norris won in Brazil from pole position, but it wasn’t quite as straightforward as it sounds.
‘The threat was material’ – How Max Verstappen had McLaren scrambling
Verstappen started from 21st place on the grid at Interlagos after taking a back-of-the-grid penalty for an engine change.
Despite this, he was quickly into the points-paying positions, with both he and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton making mincemeat of the lower-order drivers in treacherous conditions.
But while Hamilton stalled in the lower reaches of the top 10, hindered by relinquishing a position to Ollie Bearman for completing a pass off the track, Verstappen kept charging.
“The threat set by Max definitely looked material in the early laps,” said Stella.
“I think what we have seen today is that the cars exhibited different features. Like at the start of the race, you needed to be good at bringing the tyres up to temperature. I’m not sure how much you follow the laps to the grid, but on the laps to the grid, nobody could actually generate any temperature. So definitely, in the early laps, there was a premium on the cars, all the drivers, that were able to generate tyre temperature.
“Obviously, Max, likewise Lewis; I think they have shown their talent not only from a tyre switching on point of view, but also in the first lap.
“I watched some images; they were just incredible how easily they gained positions. But going back to the evolution of the race, I think something we have seen on Saturday, even in qualifying.”
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However, as the track dried and soft slick tyres became the favoured option, Norris was able to extend his advantage over Verstappen, with the Red Bull developing various gremlins that led the Dutchman to become ever more vocal on the team radio.
“You may remember I made a comment that we seemed to be good when there was a lot of water, and then we kind of lost it a little bit in Q2 when there was less water,” added Stella.
“Likewise, on Sunday, it was difficult to see a car that was good in all conditions.
“We struggled a bit more with Lando at the start, and then somehow we managed to keep good grip in the intermediate tyres and also on the soft tyres.
“I think in the final part of the stint on the soft tyres, Lando was very fast, and probably there is the one who had done the best job. Because if you look at Antonelli as well, he was good at the final part of the stint on the soft, and he struggled at the start and he lost positions.
“So it was technically a very interesting race, or event, if you want, because really everyone had to deal at some stage, with the tyres being either too cold or getting too hot, but without a clear pattern. So I think he was definitely interesting, and all teams will have some data to look into and understand.”
Read more: Brazilian GP conclusions: Hamilton talking his way out, Russell crying out, big Lawson dilemma
