Mekies: Red Bull trusts Verstappen even in the most extreme calls

The 2 races successful Monza and Baku showed that Red Bull, though not arsenic ascendant arsenic earlier this season, inactive knows however to instrumentality vantage of each opportunity. However, what stands retired astir is that the occurrence did not travel lone acknowledgment to the velocity of the RB21 car; the peculiar narration betwixt the squad and Max Verstappen is key. 

The awesome Dutchman showed that helium not lone drives to the bounds of his capabilities, but besides influences important decisions – method and strategical – that tin alteration the people of the full weekend. Team main Laurent Mekies openly admitted that Red Bull puts his spot successful its four-time satellite champion astatine the astir delicate moments.

Monza and bold moves

Monza was a contention afloat of challenges. The RB21 was fast, but McLaren's MCL39 threatened to instrumentality the initiative. At that moment, the superb operator made a determination that amazed many; conscionable earlier qualifying helium requested further rear helping merchandise and a much assertive DRS flap. It was risky due to the fact that the squad did not person capable information connected performance. 

Technical manager Pierre Wache expressed doubts, but the determination was applied lone to his car and proved to beryllium a implicit hit. Verstappen won the rod presumption acknowledgment to the other speed, and successful the contention Red Bull had much dominance than expected. Mekies pointed retired that the cardinal was his gait done the turns, portion Helmut Marko added that this benignant of courageousness makes a quality successful a play of 24 races.

Baku and hazard strategy

On the streets of Baku, the situation was different; this clip it was not astir the car's setup, but astir the tires. Verstappen suggested and insisted connected the commencement connected the harder C4 tire, though everyone expected medium. Mekies explained: 

"Saturday was afloat of reddish flags and Baku is known for information car situations. Max had a wide thought – this was going to beryllium a contention waiting for the information car."

The determination was risky; If the information car had travel retired earlier, the concern would person been difficult, admitted Mekies: 

"There were times erstwhile we knew they were going to enactment america astatine risk, but we trusted Max." In the end, the maneuver paid disconnected and showed however overmuch Red Bull trusts its driver.

These 2 races corroborate that Verstappen is not conscionable a points-scoring driver; helium is an designer of decisions, and Red Bull is simply a squad that trusts his instincts adjacent erstwhile they are extreme.