Unbelievable! Max Verstappen's performance at the Circuit of the Americas has left everyone in awe. But here's where it gets controversial...
The Red Bull team, after a recent surge in progress with their RB21 car, dominated the first qualifying session on Friday. Team boss Laurent Mekies had predicted that McLaren would excel at the medium-speed corners of Austin, but Verstappen's exceptional drive proved otherwise.
This success isn't just about raw speed. It's a testament to Red Bull's operational improvements too. Fridays used to be a weak spot for the team, often requiring overnight setup adjustments. But this time, with limited practice, the RB21 was immediately competitive, showcasing the team's enhanced understanding of their 2025 car.
Red Bull's strategy involved splitting their practice program between Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda to gather diverse data. Technical Director Pierre Wache explained their approach, emphasizing the importance of maximizing car performance by optimizing setup. Tsunoda's setup provided a better direction, which was then applied to both cars for sprint qualifying.
Verstappen's pole lap was a masterclass in performance extraction, as Wache put it. But it was his final sector that truly captivated the team. Helmut Marko and Laurent Mekies singled out the last corner, where Verstappen pulled off a 'crazy' move to beat Lando Norris.
"He manages to surprise us every time," Mekies said. "It's unbelievable."
And this is the part most people miss: the data confirms it. Verstappen's GPS data from the final sector shows he was faster than Norris at the end of the main straight, and his ability to carry speed into corners, as seen in Suzuka earlier this year, gave him the edge.
Through the high-speed corners, Verstappen clawed back time, and the battle came down to the final corner, now officially named the Andretti corner. Norris braked earlier, but Verstappen's late braking and smooth exit rotation secured him the pole position for the sprint race.
"With a crazy last corner, Verstappen made up a full tenth," Mekies said.
So, what do you think? Is Verstappen's driving style a game-changer? Or is it a risky strategy that could backfire? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
