before Japanese Grand Prix Today, Max Verstappen hinted that Red Bull changed its car repair evaluation systems over the weekend.
This was after his post-Melbourne analysis of the failure that led to the Dutchman's right rear brake pad getting stuck on the disc and the entire parts assembly eventually catching fire at the start of the race, which he won Carlos Sainz to Ferrari.
Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan also explained at Suzuka that a “series of events” occurred while the team was repairing Verstappen’s floor after the first FP1 in Australia that led to “the appropriate thing that led to [el incendio de los frenos y el abandono]”.
The team is also working on a longer-term redesign of the braking system, but since that is not ready yet, Verstappen explained how he will launch “a little bit more of a supervisory role to maybe re-check some things but also some things you change” in the car.
“You know, here and there sometimes there is a little hasty action when you want to change things between FP1, FP2 or during the night,” he said in the post-qualifying press conference in Japan, after beating his Red Bull teammate. Sergio Perez He took first place in Sunday's race by only 66 thousandths of a second.
“Sometimes, there might be some important things you want to change, but you're running out of time because of a curfew or something else.
“Yes, we just have to make sure you can check things in because everyone is always under a lot of stress and we don't blame one person.” [se ha aplicado el cambio en los procedimientos].
“But it's always good to have a guy who does some things and then some things. But it's basically just double-checking things overall.”
Max Verstappen, Japanese Grand Prix driver, Red Bull Racing
picture: Motorsport pictures
Verstappen also wished the best to his former chief mechanic, Lee Stevenson, who left Red Bull after the Melbourne race to take up a new role with Sauber.
“He had a great opportunity at Sauber, and I don't blame him for trying something new,” the Dutchman said.
“We are still good friends. We have shared many wonderful moments together.
“And sometimes in life, you get opportunities and maybe step out of your comfort zone a little bit to try something new.
“If it doesn't work out, you can always come back, right? So it's all good.”
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