Montoya: Red Bull Surprised by Verstappen's Monza Wing Choice
Summary
Montoya claims Red Bull engineers were surprised by Verstappen's bold low-downforce Monza wing choice. His dominant win reignites his championship bid.
Juan Pablo Montoya suggests Red Bull engineers were surprised by Max Verstappen's low-downforce wing choice at Monza, leading to his dominant victory.
Why it matters:
Verstappen's risk, against team preference, showed his confidence and strategic edge. This win revitalized his championship campaign and Red Bull's potential.
The Details:
- On the MontoyAS podcast, Montoya reported: "Even Red Bull was surprised. Engineers didn’t want it, but Max said, 'Do it.' After qualifying, Max confirmed it worked, laughing."
- Montoya expected McLaren to challenge; Verstappen finished 20 seconds ahead. Red Bull used less wing but still dominated.
The Championship Picture:
- Montoya believes Red Bull can win at tracks like Baku/Vegas, tightening the championship.
- McLaren's internal rivalry is crucial: "If Lando beats Oscar, and Max is second, the points gap opens significantly."
- Verstappen is 63 pts behind Norris, 94 behind Piastri (8 races, 3 sprints left). McLaren's lead is substantial, but internal point-splitting could aid a Verstappen comeback.
What's Next:
Future races will determine Red Bull's consistency against McLaren. Verstappen's strategy and the McLaren driver dynamic remain key.
Original Article :https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/montoya-makes-verstappen-claim-i-think-even-red-b...