Verstappen's Tyre Advantage Over McLaren for Abu Dhabi Title Decider

Max Verstappen enters the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with a crucial strategic advantage over his McLaren rivals: an extra set of new medium tires. This could be a game-changer as teams grapple with unexpected tire graining due to lower grip levels and a resurfaced Sector 1 at Yas Marina.

Why it matters:

Verstappen starts on pole, aiming to secure the title against Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. While Norris needs a podium of any kind and Piastri needs a win plus Norris finishing outside the top six, Verstappen's unique tire allocation offers a strategic flexibility that could prove decisive in a race where tire management is already a major concern. The ability to deploy a fresh set of mediums late in the race could provide a performance boost to overcome McLaren's hard tire strategy.

The Details:

• Unexpected Graining: Throughout practice sessions, teams encountered more tire graining than anticipated, attributed to lower grip levels on the newly resurfaced Sector 1 of the Yas Marina Circuit.
• Pirelli's Recommendations: Despite the graining, Pirelli still suggests a one-stop strategy is the fastest, typically starting on mediums before switching to hards between laps 20-26, or starting on hards and finishing on softs around laps 39-45.
• Two-Stop Scenarios: A two-stop race involves an early medium-to-hard switch, followed by a final stint on mediums or softs.
• Verstappen's Joker: Max Verstappen possesses two brand-new sets of medium (C4) tires for the Grand Prix. In contrast, both McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, have saved two sets of hard (C3) tires.
• Opening Stint: All three title contenders are expected to begin the race on a new set of medium tires.
• Late Race Advantage: Verstappen's reserved new medium set could offer a significant performance edge in the closing stages of the race, potentially giving him superior grip and pace compared to McLaren's available hard tire sets.

What's next:

The tire strategy will be a critical element to watch during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Verstappen's extra new medium tire set provides Red Bull with a flexible strategic option that could be deployed to great effect, especially if tire degradation becomes a more prominent factor than expected. McLaren will need to perfectly execute their hard tire strategy to counteract this potential advantage. The race will ultimately reveal whether Verstappen's 'joker' tire set can translate into a championship-winning performance.