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Verstappen in the USA

Red Bull considered Verstappen three-stop in Austin - Horner

Verstappen in the USA — Photo: © LAT Images

Red Bull considered Verstappen three-stop in Austin - Horner

Tyre degradation was a key factor on Sunday

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has revealed the team "were considering" switching Max Verstappen to a three-stop strategy at the United States Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen scored his eighth win of the season at the Circuit of the Americas with an aggressive two-stop strategy to overcome the challenge of Lewis Hamilton.

The Dutchman's victory moved him 12 points clear of his rival at the top of the drivers' standings with five races to go.

Although Hamilton had no problem closing the on-track margin following his final stop in Texas with fresher tyres, he had been unable to make up the final second in dirty air. Verstappen's strategy was so aggressive was the strategy, however, that it almost pushed Red Bull into stopping for a third time with tyre wear extremely high on the abrasive surface.

Asked if the race had always been under control, Horner answered: “No! We were considering a three-stop.

"What did that look like, would that put us in a better position at the end of the race?"

"You give away track position so, in the end, we decided to stick with the track position and try to save your tyres.

“That meant allowing Lewis to close up quickly and then he was in the dirty air obviously. Max managed that incredibly well and there is an awful lot of pressure in a race like that.”

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