Verstappen reveals: this much time he gains with tyre management
F1 News
Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing were a rock-solid combination in 2023. The Dutch driver managed to squeeze just a little more performance out of his car each time than all competitors did. Importantly, Verstappen knew how to handle his tyres very well. As a result, the triple world champion was able to win many Grands Prix in 2023.
It is not easy to build a car that can manage tyres well. For example, Ferrari and Haas struggle. The former team struggled in the first half of last season in particular to keep the Pirelli's strong. It was worse for Haas. The team of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg regularly had to deal with enormous tyre wear after only a few laps driven during a Grand Prix.
Interaction between Verstappen and his Red Bull
The question is, how much of a credit to the driver's ability to handle the tyres well? "In any case, you need a car that can handle the tyres well," Max Verstappen told Motorsport Aktuell. "Otherwise you are lost. You see it at Haas. I don't think Nico and Kevin are idiots. When the car overloads the tyres, there's not much you can do."
Still, Verstappen says the role of the driver is also important in keeping the tyres viable. "First of all, you need a foundation - and that is the car. As a driver, you can grab one or two-tenths of a second if you pay better attention to your tyres," the Dutchman believes.