At the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Max Verstappen made an unconventional decision to start the race on hard tyres from pole position, a strategy that ultimately delivered a commanding win in Baku. The move, driven by Verstappen’s confidence in his car and race conditions, allowed him to maintain the lead from start to finish, extending his winning streak to two consecutive races.
The race weekend had been chaotic, with six red flags interrupting qualifying – setting a new Formula 1 record. Despite these disruptions, Verstappen emerged as the polesitter but chose to line up on hard tyres rather than the usual medium compound preferred by front-runners, taking a notable risk given the track’s history of frequent Safety Car appearances.
Strategic Insight Behind the Hard Tyres Decision
Red Bull’s team principal, Laurent Mekies, revealed that Verstappen was the driving force behind the choice to start on hard tyres, having a detailed plan for how the race would unfold. Mekies explained the expectation of multiple Safety Cars in Baku, and Verstappen’s strategy aimed to exploit this by maximizing track position and extending tyre life to avoid an early pit stop that could compromise the lead.
Mekies said,
“We looked at yesterday’s qualifying with the red flags. Obviously here, there is a long history of many, many Safety Cars, and Max had a very clear idea that it will become a race where you just drive, waiting for the Safety Car, where you try to wait as long as you can, up until the Safety Car comes.”
He added,
“Because otherwise, somebody’s going to have a cheap pit-stop and it’s not going to be you.”
The team’s previous experience at Monza reinforced this approach, where extending the tyre stint was crucial but exposed the car to risks with Safety Car timings. Mekies acknowledged the gamble involved:
“If a Safety Car happens in Lap 10, you will not find it funny, if you’re stuck on a hard. But, he had a very, very clear in his mind that he wanted to exploit the pace of the car and disappear with the hard, and he has done exactly that.”
Race Execution and Performance Highlights
When the lights went out, Verstappen quickly held onto the lead, gradually increasing the gap from his rivals. The Dutch driver stuck to his race plan, delaying his single pit stop until the latter stages when he switched to medium tyres. Even with the pit stop under pressure, Verstappen emerged comfortably in first place and surged to a decisive victory, finishing 14.609 seconds ahead of George Russell.
Verstappen acknowledged the unusual nature of his hard tyre starting strategy during the post-race press conference but affirmed it was the right call. Reflecting on the risk involved, he said,
“Well, not so much from knowing how good it would be. It’s more like the start or an untimely Safety Car.”
He continued,
“So as soon as we crossed, like, 20 laps into the race, I was a bit happier, but it was a bit of a risk.”
Verstappen underscored how rare it is to start from pole on the hardest compound, stating,
“I think it’s a bit unusual, of course, when you’re on pole, to start on the hardest compound that is available. But we did it, and I think it was the right call.”
He summed up the strategy optimism,
“We said before the race, well, one way or another one strategy will work, and we’ll come out of the race happy with it. Luckily, we chose the right one.”
Championship Implications and Outlook
Verstappen’s performance in Baku reduces his championship deficit to leader Oscar Piastri to 69 points with seven races remaining, reigniting his challenge for a fifth consecutive world title. The victory not only showcases his mastery of strategy and racecraft but also signals Red Bull’s ability to adapt quickly to unpredictable race conditions.
With such a strategic gamble paying off handsomely, Verstappen’s approach in Azerbaijan could influence team tactics in the remaining rounds of the season, particularly on circuits prone to multiple Safety Car interventions. As the championship battle intensifies, decisions like starting on Max Verstappen hard tyres may prove pivotal in the quest for ultimate victory.
