On Friday, Max Verstappen showcased his exceptional driving skills by topping the times at the Circuit of the Americas during the first of two qualifying sessions for this weekend's Formula 1 event. This performance further emphasizes the recent advancements made by Red Bull Racing with their new RB21 car.
As the race weekend commenced, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies suggested that the medium-speed corners of Austin would favor McLaren, citing their impressive performance at Zandvoort where they notably outpaced Red Bull. However, Verstappen's stellar performance in Texas clearly illustrates the strides that Red Bull has made not just in terms of speed, but also in their operational approach.
Historically, Fridays have posed challenges for Red Bull, often requiring the team to make significant adjustments to their setup overnight. In contrast, this time around, with only one practice session available, the RB21 demonstrated immediate competitiveness. This development is a strong indicator that the team has gained a better understanding of their 2025 car compared to the earlier parts of the season.
Due to the limited practice time at COTA, Red Bull adopted a strategic approach by splitting their program between Verstappen and teammate Yuki Tsunoda, allowing them to collect two distinct data sets. Technical director Pierre Wache elaborated on this strategy, stating, “During any qualifying session, we are trying to maximize the performance of the car by going as low as possible on setup.”
Wache noted that they tested two different setups across both cars during FP1, ultimately finding that Tsunoda's setup provided slightly better performance. This insight was crucial for enhancing both cars ahead of sprint qualifying, particularly in addressing high-speed bottoming issues encountered on the circuit.
Verstappen's qualifying lap was a testament to his skill, as Wache remarked, “It was a very good performance extraction from Max today. He really put it all together to get pole.” Others at Red Bull also focused on Verstappen's final sector, with Helmut Marko noting that the Dutch driver went “sideways” in Turn 1 but managed to recover impressively in the last sector. Mekies emphasized this point, praising Verstappen's ability to consistently surprise the team with his performance.
Mekies remarked, “Honestly, he manages to surprise us every time he gets into that car. It’s unbelievable,” highlighting the dedication Verstappen puts into his racing. The team recognized that Verstappen's skillful maneuvering in the last corner was pivotal in securing his pole position, even without real-time information about his competitors.
Analysis of GPS data corroborates the observations made by Marko and Mekies regarding the final sector of the track. Comparing Verstappen's and Lando Norris' fastest SQ3 laps reveals that Verstappen was traveling at 311 km/h compared to Norris's 309 km/h at the end of the main straight. Although McLaren had a slight edge in traction out of the final corner, Verstappen's small slide in Turn 1 momentarily increased Norris's advantage.
Through the subsequent high-speed corners, reminiscent of Suzuka’s Esses, Verstappen regained lost time, showcasing the RB21's strength in fast corners. The two drivers engaged in a closely contested battle, with Norris enjoying better exits but Verstappen ultimately capitalizing on his late braking into the final corner.
By the time they reached the finish line, Verstappen had transformed a 0.031-second deficit into a 0.071-second victory, marking his first sprint pole of the season. This remarkable feat was made possible by his late braking and skillful handling, a combination he has demonstrated throughout the season.
Verstappen's performance at the Circuit of the Americas underscores the impressive advancements made by Red Bull Racing. As they continue to refine their strategies and car performance, the team appears poised for a strong showing in the upcoming races. With a blend of operational excellence and driver skill, Red Bull is undoubtedly a formidable competitor in the 2023 Formula 1 season.
