Max Verstappen admits McLaren’s tire management is a “huge advantage”

Max Verstappen has admitted that deciphering the "huge advantage" McLaren has when it comes to tire management is not that simple because they don't know why the Woking team are better at managing their tyres.

Red Bull and Verstappen were more than a pit stop apart at the Miami Grand Prix, while McLaren's driver line-up surged to a double victory after early battles with the Red Bull driver.

Verstappen, who started from pole position, managed to keep the lead after Lando Norris went off the track at the second corner and fell down the order on the way back.

However, after Verstappen did his best to hold off Piastri, the Australian overtook him at the first turn of lap 14 and then broke away.

Norris did the same four laps later, confirming Verstappen's doubts after qualifying about Red Bull's chances of victory.

"I think they're generally better in the race," Verstappen told motorsport week. "You also saw it on the intermediate tires in the rain [in the sprint race]."

"As soon as those tires start to overheat, they have a huge advantage. So we're all obviously doing something wrong with the tires, except for McLaren."

Verstappen talks about McLaren's tire management

Speaking after the race, Verstappen again highlighted McLaren's superior tire management as a key factor in the team's dominance.

"They were miles ahead, they were simply much faster than everyone else on a track where thermal degradation is very high," he explains. "Yes, they just have a huge advantage; I think that's pretty clear."

When asked if he has a theory why McLaren is better with tires, he answered: "If we knew that, we would have already changed it, wouldn't we, but it's not that simple," he pointed out.

The stark contrast between qualifying and the race is cause for concern in Verstappen's eyes, as he explained that McLaren had better performance in the race. 

"Honestly, I think if you look at the results in qualifying, I think it's pretty clear, but then in the race you don't have to go all the way to the limit and then your tires are simply cooler, you have better grip. It's just like that," the Red Bull driver concluded.

After one quarter of the current season, Verstappen trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 32 points, and second-placed Norris by 16 points.