Max Verstappen Reveals Red Bull's Crucial F1 Setup Changes for Abu Dhabi Pole

Max Verstappen secured a vital pole position at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, revealing that Red Bull made significant changes to his RB21 between FP3 and qualifying. These adjustments proved crucial as he aims to secure victory in the season finale against fierce competition from McLaren.

Why it matters:

Securing pole position in the final race of the season is critical for Verstappen, especially with Lando Norris leading him by 12 points in the driver standings and Oscar Piastri also in close contention. A strong starting position at Yas Marina, where overtaking can be challenging, significantly boosts his chances of victory and a strong end to the season. This pole position underscores Red Bull's ability to adapt and optimize their car under pressure, a trait essential for championship success.

The Details:

• Crucial Setup Tweaks: Verstappen confirmed that Red Bull implemented valuable changes to his RB21 between the final practice session (FP3) and qualifying. These adjustments were pivotal in improving his comfort and performance in the cooler night conditions of qualifying.
• Adapting to Conditions: The challenge involved anticipating how track conditions would evolve from the warmer FP3 under the setting sun to the cooler night qualifying session. Verstappen noted, "You have to try and guess a little bit how much the track is going to improve... you're never 100% sure if it's going to work. But I do think that what we changed definitely helped me a little bit more to feel better in qualifying."
• Q3 Performance Leap: While McLaren, with both Norris and Piastri, appeared to have an edge in outright pace during parts of qualifying, Verstappen managed to find significant lap time between Q2 and Q3.
• Scrubbed Tires in Q2: Verstappen used scrubbed tires in Q2, which allowed him to save fresh sets for the crucial final segment. He explained, "In Q2, I stayed on scrubbed tyres, and I think those laps already felt quite decent, and of course, in Q3 around here, track temperature is coming down, you know that you can push a bit more, and that's exactly what we did."
• Maximizing Potential: Verstappen emphasized the team's focus on maximizing everything they had. "We found a bit more lap time, and, of course, are incredibly happy to be in first. That's the only thing that we can do, right? That's the only thing that we can control. Try to just maximise everything we have and then what we can with the car. And we definitely did that there in qualifying."

What's next:

With pole position secured, Verstappen's focus now shifts entirely to the race. The primary goal will be to convert this strong starting position into a victory, especially given the tight championship battle. The performance of the car in race trim, coupled with strategic calls from the pit wall, will determine if Verstappen can close out the season on a high note and potentially reclaim his points lead.