Max Verstappen says Red Bull are unlikely to beat McLaren on pure pace in Abu Dhabi, so they will need to rely on another strategical masterclass.
Their decision to pit the Dutchman during the early stages in Qatar paid dividends and he is hoping for a repeat this weekend.
“I hope that we start the weekend well,” he said. “That would help a lot. I think on pure pace, it will be tough.
“A race like [Qatar] also shows that it’s not always straightforward, a Grand Prix, and a lot of things can happen, so I’m probably relying a little bit on that.
“You need to be realistic. On pure pace, we’re not at the same level.
“But at the same time, when strategy maybe comes into play or making the right calls at the right time, we might have the opportunity.”