Peter Windsor believes Max Verstappen‘s lower top speed and performance in the Miami Grand Prix were due to an incorrect wing setup, which added more downforce but compromised his speed compared to teammate Sergio Pérez.
Highlights
‣ Peter Windsor suggests Max Verstappen’s lower top speed at the Miami Grand Prix was due to a wrong wing setup, aiming for better tyre management but sacrificing straight-line speed.
‣ Despite leading the race initially, Verstappen’s top speed was significantly lower than expected for a Red Bull car, indicating a possible strategic misstep in wing configuration.
‣ Sergio Pérez, Verstappen’s teammate, recorded a higher top speed with less wing, suggesting different strategies within the same team aimed at balancing speed with the need to overtake.
‣ The decision to add more wing to Verstappen’s car was influenced by his dissatisfaction with the car’s feel throughout the weekend, aiming to improve handling at the cost of top speed.
Peter Windsor has his eyebrows raised. He’s pretty convinced Max Verstappen didn’t have his car set up right for the Miami Grand Prix. On his YouTube channel, the seasoned 72-year-old F1 journalist dives deep. He’s puzzled because the reigning champ seemed to lack that zip, that top speed, during Sunday’s showdown.
So, there’s Max, right at the sharp end from the get-go. He’s ahead of Charles Leclerc, and everyone’s thinking, “Here we go, another Max and Charles show.” Max appeared to be biding his time, waiting for the others to start sliding around on worn tires before making his move. That’s the vibe in the early laps, according to Windsor. But then, bam, the surprise hits. Max’s top speed? Just 309. For a Red Bull, that’s kinda sluggish. It’s like expecting a sprint but watching a jog instead.
Enter Sergio Pérez, Verstappen’s teammate. He’s clocking speeds of 317 km/h without even flicking on the DRS. That’s eyebrow-raising stuff. Windsor muses that maybe, just maybe, Max opted for a bit more wing during qualifying. You know, aiming for that pole position with a car that’s a bit more glued to the track. “He needed that extra grip,” Windsor suggests, thinking about tire management.
Verstappen with a lot of downforce
Now, here’s the kicker. Verstappen wasn’t exactly over the moon with his Red Bull’s feel throughout the weekend. So, they slapped on more wing, hoping for the best. Meanwhile, Pérez is out there, less drag, more speed, probably because they figured he’d need to be weaving through traffic.
Windsor’s got this hunch. “Maybe they overdid it with Max’s wing,” he ponders. Not just a bit, but enough to notice. It’s like they aimed for a certain kind of race car but ended up with something a tad different. Something not quite Max’s usual ride.
And there you have it. A tale of wings, speeds, and strategy. All served up with a side of what-ifs and maybes.
