Kada Sárközi joined GPblog as an editor ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season. He graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in the UK and has covered Grands Prix and other F1 events live.
Max Verstappen was not happy with getting a set of hard tyres for after the Safety Car restart. It turns out the Dutchman played a role himself in the decision, however, he didn't not he'd be on the aforementioned compound.
Verstappen requested new set of tyres at the Spanish GP
After Kimi Antonelli had to stop on track because of a mechanical failure, the Safety Car was called out. With that, the defending world champion asked his team for a fresh set of tyres, the non-broadcasted team radios reveal.
"Do we have another set of tyres? It will make a difference. Fresh tyres," the Red Bull driver said. To that, Gianpiero Lambiase called the driver into the pit lane.
What Verstappen was not aware of is that he only had a fresh set of hard tyres left. That is because unlike his rivals, he was on a three-stop strategy.
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The hard tyres have already looked like they will not be usable during the race in practice sessions - those sets proved to be slow to warm up, have little grip and are significantly slower. Only Verstappen used a set of the C1 tyres during the Spanish GP.
Verstappen unpleasantly surprised by hard tyres
Once Verstappen left the pit lane, he realised he is on a tyre that's not really desired.
"What the **** are we? What is this tyre?” Verstappen said. "That’s the hard tyre, Max," 'GP' told the driver.
"Why? Why are we on a hard?" the Dutchman was still left confused. "That was the only option," the race engineer added, with then also answering that no one has used that set before on that Sunday.
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Max Verstappen and Helmut Marko during the Grand Prix weekend in Barcelona.
A day after the Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen reacted to what took place after the Safety Car restart on social media.
This article was written in collaboration with Nicole Mulder
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