Fresh from taking pole in Baku, Max Verstappen didn’t hold back on Pirelli’s softest compound, the C6. The Red Bull driver said the tyre “doesn’t work anywhere” and urged talks with the supplier about removing it from future allocations.
Soft tyre, hard opinion
Despite taking pole on the soft, Verstappen stressed it wasn’t his preferred route and reiterated that Red Bull had built its weekend around the medium compound. The Dutchman wants a conversation with Pirelli about the C6’s place in F1, arguing the softest rubber fails to offer a consistent operating window.
Context from a chaotic qualifying
Strong winds and light rain left the track surface unpredictable, amplifying tyre challenges. Teams wrestled with getting compounds into the right window quickly after multiple red flags, with some opting to abandon planned strategies for one-shot grip.
What next?
Any change to tyre nominations requires agreement and lead time, but Verstappen’s forthright critique puts the C6 under renewed scrutiny. Expect the dialogue with Pirelli to intensify as teams and drivers push for compounds that offer confidence in extreme conditions and over single laps.
