Red Bull Confirms Floor Change for Max Verstappen's Car in Qatar

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has revealed that Max Verstappen used an older specification of the floor on his RB21 throughout the Qatar Grand Prix weekend. This decision was a direct response to Verstappen's discomfort with the car's performance, citing significant understeer and excessive bouncing.

Why it matters:

Max Verstappen's pursuit of another F1 title is heavily dependent on optimizing his car's performance. A specific car setup, even a subtle change like reverting to an older floor specification, can dramatically impact a driver's confidence and ability to extract maximum performance, especially in a tightly contested championship.

The details:

• Verstappen openly expressed dissatisfaction with the RB21's handling at the Lusail International Circuit, struggling with understeer and pronounced bouncing.
• Despite qualifying sixth for the sprint race and finishing fourth, his struggles persisted.
• For the Grand Prix qualifying, where he secured third place, Verstappen was running the Red Bull floor originally introduced at Monza.
• This is notable because Red Bull had introduced a more upgraded floor specification in Mexico.
• Team Decision: Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko confirmed this change, stating it was an "individual decision" based on Verstappen's preference.
• Broader Issues: Marko clarified that the bouncing issues weren't solely due to the floor, indicating other factors contributed to the car's handling problems.
• Driver Preference: Yuki Tsunoda, in contrast, was reportedly content with the newer floor specification from the outset.

The big picture:

Red Bull's willingness to revert to an older specification for their star driver underscores the critical role of driver feedback and comfort in Formula 1. Even with advanced upgrades, if a driver cannot extract performance, the older, more familiar setup can sometimes be the more effective choice. This highlights the delicate balance between pushing development and ensuring driver confidence, especially when a championship is on the line.

What's next:

Verstappen's third-place qualification for the Qatar Grand Prix puts him on the second row, behind the McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. His performance will be crucial as he aims to keep his F1 title hopes alive leading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi. The team will undoubtedly analyze the impact of this floor change and other setup adjustments to optimize his car for future races.