Zak Brown Anticipates Aggressive Verstappen Lunge at Qatar GP Turn 1

McLaren CEO Zak Brown expects an "ultra-aggressive" Max Verstappen to challenge Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri from the start of the Qatar Grand Prix, urging fans not to miss the Turn 1 action. Verstappen, starting third behind polesitter Piastri and second-placed Norris, faces a near-impossible task to overtake on the Losail track, making an early lunge crucial for his title hopes.

Why it matters:

• The Qatar Grand Prix presents a critical juncture in the F1 season, with Max Verstappen needing a strong performance to keep his championship hopes alive.
• With overtaking notoriously difficult on the Losail circuit, the opening lap – particularly Turn 1 – is expected to be a high-stakes moment, dictating much of the race's outcome.
• McLaren's strong qualifying performance with Piastri and Norris starting P1 and P2 puts them in a prime position to capitalize, potentially narrowing the championship battle to an intra-team fight by Abu Dhabi.

The Details:

• Grid Positions: Oscar Piastri qualified on pole, Lando Norris in second, and Max Verstappen in third.
• Overtaking Challenge: The Losail International Circuit is known for being extremely difficult to overtake on, which puts immense pressure on drivers to gain positions early.
• Mandatory Two-Stopper: Race strategies are locked into a mandatory two-stop rule, which, while offering some tactical flexibility, still emphasizes track position.
• Verstappen's Aggression: Zak Brown anticipates Verstappen will be "at his most aggressive" at the start, aiming to lead into Turn 1.
• McLaren's Goal: Brown stated McLaren's objective is for "papaya to win this championship," aiming for a two-horse race between their drivers in Abu Dhabi if they can maintain their starting positions.
• Red Bull's Optimism: Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko also expects "fireworks" from Verstappen, noting that most drivers get nervous with Max alongside them.
• Car Adjustments: Marko revealed Red Bull made significant changes to Verstappen's car after qualifying, including replacing a damaged floor and other adjustments, to address bouncing issues and improve race pace.
• Tyre Performance: Red Bull believes Verstappen's RB21 will be more competitive on the medium and hard tire compounds used in the race, where the performance gap to McLaren was narrower.

What's next:

All eyes will be on the start of the Qatar Grand Prix, particularly the run into Turn 1, where Max Verstappen is expected to make an aggressive move to gain track position. If McLaren can hold their ground and maintain their strong front-row lockout, it could significantly alter the championship narrative heading into the final races of the season. Red Bull's tactical possibilities with the mandatory two-stopper, combined with their car improvements, suggest a dynamic race is in store, despite the circuit's reputation for limited overtaking opportunities.