Verstappen’s Low Wing Strategy at British GP Sets Up Intriguing Battle

Formula 1 British GP qualifying presented an intriguing battle — with the top six cars separated by just 0.229 seconds in Q3.

Max Verstappen from Red Bull made a bold decision with a low-wing setup — turning his car into a straight-line rocket but slower in corners. Meanwhile, Ferrari with Charles Leclerc showed contrasting performance — dominating corners but losing speed on straights.

“For us that looked like the best option. More downforce wouldn’t have worked well for us,” Verstappen explained about his car setup strategy.

McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris chose a more balanced setup — taking middle ground between Red Bull and Ferrari strategies.

Interestingly, Verstappen’s low wing setup might not necessarily be disadvantageous for tire management. Andrea Stella, McLaren team principal, explained that at this circuit, downforce level doesn’t always directly correlate with tire wear.

Weather factors will also play crucial role — rain forecast and cooler temperatures could favor Red Bull’s strategy. Helmut Marko, Red Bull advisor, added optimism by noting that Verstappen set the fastest long run in practice sessions.