Red Bull links Verstappen's Spanish GP clash to tyre frustration and oversteer

Red Bull has attributed Max Verstappen's collision with Charles Leclerc during the Spanish Grand Prix to tyre-related frustration and a significant oversteer incident.

The clash occurred on lap 61 following a safety car restart at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where Verstappen struggled to warm up his hard tyres, leading to a "huge oversteer moment" as he exited the final corner.

"Verstappen's frustration over the hard tyre probably made the difference. They didn’t realise the tyre would be so bad at warming up," a Red Bull advisor explained, highlighting the impact of tyre choice on the Dutch driver's performance.

The stewards reviewed the incident, noting that both Verstappen and Leclerc were moving towards each other, ultimately ruling it a racing incident with no single party fully to blame. Verstappen was handed a 10-second penalty for the collision, which dropped him to 10th place, while Leclerc secured third behind two McLarens.

Leclerc commented on the incident, stating it was Verstappen who tried to "squeeze" him late in the race. The tyre disadvantage was clear, as Leclerc remarked, "From the moment when I knew that Max was on a hard tyre, I was like ‘okay, that’s not a great tyre to be on for the last five laps.’"

The tyre challenge not only affected Verstappen's pace but also his driving style, with Red Bull noting, "Of course, there's a certain frustration, which also reflected in his driving style."

This incident underscored the critical role of tyre strategy in Formula 1, especially during late-race restarts where tyre temperature and grip can decisively influence outcomes.

The Spanish Grand Prix's dramatic finish, marked by multiple incidents, left Verstappen and Red Bull reflecting on the challenges posed by tyre performance under pressure.

Red Bull linked Max Verstappen's clash at the Spanish Grand Prix to tyre frustration and oversteer, citing his struggle to warm up hard tyres after a safety car restart. The incident, involving Charles Leclerc, was deemed a racing incident by stewards, with Verstappen receiving a 10-second penalty and finishing 10th.