Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19 (motorsport.com)
Horner Argues Against Making Prescribed Pitstops a Permanent Fixture in Formula 1.
Christian Horner, Team Principal of Red Bull Racing, has expressed his disapproval of mandated pitstops in Formula 1, calling for more freedom and creativity in race strategies. This comes after Pirelli identified tire issues at the Losail Circuit, leading to the imposition of a maximum stint length of 18 laps in the 57-lap Grand Prix, which required a three-stop strategy for drivers.
Horner believes that enforced pitstops could have unintended consequences on qualifying, influencing decisions on how many laps to run to conserve tires for the race. He emphasizes that F1 should allow teams the flexibility to choose their race strategy, whether it’s a one-stop, two-stop, or three-stop plan, to encourage creativity and unpredictability in the sport.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won the Grand Prix, with many suggesting that the mandated pitstops led to a more predictable race. While Horner understands the safety concerns that prompted the decision, he highlights that it had a significant impact on race strategies and made the race outcome more certain.