Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has revealed there was a particular reason why Max Verstappen and Lando Norris went wheel-to-wheel in a pit-lane duel during the Japanese Grand Prix.
With Norris following Verstappen into the pits at Suzuka for a change of tyres at the end of lap 21, the release of both drivers was almost simultaneous. The four-time champion’s stop was exactly one second slower – 3.3s to 2.3s.
Verstappen had a marginal advantage on exit, leading to Norris alongside him as they headed back on track. As the pit lane narrowed, Norris was squeezed onto the grass.
Although Norris complained over the radio that Verstappen had ‘forced him off’, Verstappen declared that the Briton “drove himself onto the grass”.
The stewards naturally reviewed the incident and correctly decided that no further investigation was needed.
Horner, though, has now explained why Verstappen’s stop was significantly slower than that of Norris, particularly given Red Bull is ordinarily one of the fastest teams in the pit lane when it comes to a change of tyres.
“After they pitted Oscar first, it was clear they were going to pit Lando the following lap, so we pitted to cover,” Horner said to F1TV.
“This weekend the two number one mechanics, who are twins on the car, unfortunately, their dad has not been well, so they’ve gone back to the UK.
“So we had the reserve guys on the pit stop, and we had a slightly slower stop than would have been ideal.
“That allowed Lando – and thankfully his stop wasn’t stellar either – to get close, but he was never alongside.
“So I think the stewards made the right decision on that.”
