Red Bull pits Verstappen under VSC, yields track position

Antonelli inherits lead as Hamilton pits for used softs.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

Brave from Red Bull, giving up track position as Verstappen stops under the VSC and Antonelli takes the lead. Hamilton a Via @ChrisMedlandF1 on X

What happened: Red Bull executed a bold strategy call during a Virtual Safety Car, pitting Max Verstappen and surrendering the race lead to Kimi Antonelli. Lewis Hamilton also stopped for a set of used soft tires, dropping him back behind Oscar Piastri in the running order.

Why it matters: The calculated gamble to sacrifice track position for fresh rubber ultimately paid off. Verstappen held off Antonelli for the Bahrain GP win, ending Red Bull's winless start to the 2026 season.

What to watch: Red Bull carries the strategic momentum forward as the grid prepares for the next round of the 2026 campaign.

Sources

@ChrisMedlandF1 2026-10-09T06:32:49.001181+00:00

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