Nicholas defends Red Bull strategy questioned by Verstappen

In the Talking Bull podcast, Red Bull ambassador Calum Nicholas defended the two-stop strategy used for Max Verstappen at the United States Grand Prix, calling it a bold choice. Verstappen told Viaplay that the soft-soft-medium tyre sequence had not been agreed beforehand and that he did not understand why it was used.

Red Bull had the second and third grid positions, but Verstappen finished third and Isack Hadjar sixth. Verstappen’s early stop put him in dirty air, limiting the benefit he could take from his new soft tyres. Nicholas said Red Bull had expected its choice to use fewer soft tyres in qualifying to help during the race; that apparent advantage did not prove useful.

Nicholas said Red Bull did not quite have the ability to hold second place or attack for the win. He argued that the opening stint and pit stop forced rivals to race according to Red Bull’s strategy, making the compromise probably worthwhile. He also said none of the competitors had chosen the same approach.

Nicholas, a former Verstappen mechanic, said he had spoken with Hannah Schmitz, Red Bull’s chief strategist, before the race. He described decisions of this kind as team choices coordinated with the driver and strategy department.