Verstappen explains Red Bull’s opposite F1 tyre strategy to Mercedes

The world championship leader will start Sunday’s race from third after title rival Lewis Hamilton claimed his 101st F1 pole position at the Hungaroring and Valtteri Bottas completed a Mer💦cedes front-row lockout.
Red Bull and Mercedes have often elected to start raceꦚs on the more durable medium tyre by setting their best time of Q2 on the yellow-walled compound, but Verstappen and Perez both set their fa🌸stest laps on softs.
While the front-🅺running drivers usually head out on a pair of softs for a ‘banker lap’ at the end of Q2 as preparation for the pole shootout, Verstappen actually improved his time, locking him in to starting on softs.
The Dutchman said the move was not planned but rather a response to concerns that his lap time might not be good enough to advance to Q3 due𒆙 to tra🤡ck evolution.
"It was just because the o𓂃thers also were on the soft and they were improving their laptime," explained Verstappen.
"So when my lap time on th𝓡e medium would have really been on the edge for top 10, we decided to finish that lap.”

While Mercedes may have the upper-hand with its race strategy, starting on the soft tyres should give Verstappen and Perez an advantage on the long run down to Turღn 1.
“It’s of course goiಌng to be different, the grip was quite a bit higher on these tyres, so of course we’ll find out tomorrow,” Verstappen added.
“It’s going to be really hot, soꦆ natu⛎rally of course the softer tyre will not last as long as the medium, but nevertheless, it will give us a good opportunity off the line.”
Red Bull team princip💝al Christian Horner reckons favouring an “attacking” ap♋proach in the race should pay off.
”We couldn't do the same time as Lewis did on the medium, and we felt that maybe tactically, it's a different route🃏,” he ꦺtold Sky Sports. “I’d prefer that tyre for the start tomorrow. So we'll see.
"We've g꧃ot to drive an attacking race tomorrow. 💦You know how hard it is to overtake around here, so strategy is going to be crucial.”
Polesitt✱er Hamilton admitted he was “surprised” by Red Bull’s strategy, adding: “I think the s൲oft tyre is worth something like five metres down to Turn 1, it’s a long way down to Turn 1.”

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