Verstappen was fighting tyre graining, not his rivals, in title-winning drive · RaceFans

The drive to victory in Brazil which put Max Verstappen within touching distance of the world championship earlier this month was a masterpiece of wheel-to-wheel combat and wet weather skill.

But in contract, the performance which secured his title in Las Vegas last weekend was all about restraint and discipline. This was a drive in which he actively avoided getting into fights with his rivals while keeping both eyes fixed on the state of his tyres.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix was widely tipped to be a one-stop race. On paper, that was the quickest way to the chequered flag, if drivers could stop their tyres from graining.

But in the cool night conditions, the medium compound tyres almost everyone started on went off very quickly. From that moment on a two-stop strategy was likely for the entire field.

Verstappen lined up fifth, one place ahead of the only driver who could beat him to the title, Lando Norris. As the race unfolded Red Bull knew they had two priorities: To keep their tyres alive and to stay ahead of the McLaren. This selection of Verstappen’s radio chatter with race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase shows how they did it.

Verstappen’s Las Vegas Grand Prix radio messages

Jump to:

“This won’t take long”
“You want me to match that?”
“Norris and Piastri do have problems”
“How can I give the front more life”
“Don’t lose sight of our aim”
“Think about what I said at turn 11”
“You want me to keep them behind?”
“Norris at 11.8”
“Another lovely season in the books”

“This won’t take long”

Verstappen saw Leclerc head for the pits as early as lap eight as his medium rubber started to grain, and warned his team he would be in the same trouble soon:

“You want me to match that?”

Lambiase made sure Verstappen understood the team’s priority wasn’t to try to chase down race leader George Russell:

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“Norris and Piastri do have problems”

While Verstappen was having trouble with graining, his team could at least offer the consolation that his championship rival Lando Norris appeared to be in even bigger trouble. However McLaren unlocked more pace from their car in his third stint:

“How can I give the front more life”

Verstappen doesn’t often ask for guidance from the pit wall, but on this occasion he was trying everything possible to prolong the life of his tyres:

“Don’t lose sight of our aim”

When a very rapid Lewis Hamilton appeared on Verstappen’s tale, Lambiase warned his driver not to get involved in a tussle with his former championship rival. Verstappen complied, Hamilton passing him easily in a DRS zone:

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“Think about what I said at turn 11”

Red Bull were especially keen for Verstappen not to over-stress his tyres through the few quick corners on the track, notably turns 10 and 11. His approach to those corners was a regular topic of discussion:

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“You want me to keep them behind?”

Later in Verstappen’s second stint the Ferrari drivers appeared in his mirrors. Red Bull told him he could push his tyres a little harder in order to keep them behind, but both were able to overtake him.

“Norris at 11.8”

While the Ferraris came past Verstappen, Red Bull were keeping an eye on Norris’ progress. By this stage in the race McLaren appeared to have solved their graining problems and Norris was closing on the championship leader, but not quickly enough to catch him by the end of the race.

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“Another lovely season in the books”

After 50 laps, Verstappen crossed the line in fifth place. It was far from his best result of the season, but it was enough to secure his fourth consecutive world championship. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner came on his radio to offer congratulations.

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