Red Bull Defends Late Pit Stop That Cost Verstappen the São Paulo Lead

Red Bull says lap-time data showed Verstappen’s mediums would fade too quickly to defend, making a late stop the safer path to a podium.

Overview

With about 16–17 laps remaining, Max Verstappen was called in from the lead and rejoined in fourth place.
Team boss Laurent Mekies said the choice prioritized a reliable podium over a low‑probability victory as tyre degradation mounted.
Lap-time data indicated Verstappen’s used mediums were drifting into the high 1m14s while Lando Norris on fresh tyres was running in the low 1m13s.
After a pitlane start and an early puncture, Verstappen switched to softs, passed George Russell and pressured Andrea Kimi Antonelli to secure third.
McLaren’s Andrea Stella deemed the stop a reasonable response to severe wear, and Verstappen said he backed the strategy.