Max Verstappen (4): “We deserve this” / Formula 1

It was already clear before the runner qualified in China: the weather would play a role in the search for the best starting positions for the first small race of the year. The drivers started their work on a dry track, but rain came in SQ2, which caused a lot of tension in the last part of qualifying.

Anyone who was able to warm up their tires managed a good lap. Everyone else was left behind. All contenders for the top 10 starting positions struggled to keep their cars on the line. Max Verstappen also had his hands full. In the end, the three-time champion took fourth place – more than two seconds behind Lando Norris’ pole time.

“It was incredibly slippery out there and I had a lot of trouble getting the tires in the heat. Likewise, it was difficult to keep the car on the track. I never managed to get the tires into the working window and I felt like I was driving on ice,” the racing star said. of Red Bull said.

Verstappen also explained, as usual, moderately: “We deserved this position in qualifying because for me the car did not work well on the wet track.” And the Dutchman consoled himself: “It was very good in a dry place, I’m happy about that.”

Of course, fourth place on the grid gives a chance to move forward, he admitted with a view to the race. “But here there is no advantage to start from within. I’ll just have to try to get a better start and then we’ll have a really long time on one set of tyres. “So it’s going to be interesting,” the 26-year-old is convinced.

Sprint Qualifying, China

01. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, 1:57,940 minutes
02. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, 1:59,201
03. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, 1:59.915
04. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 2:00,028
05. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, 2:00.214
06. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, 2:00.375
07. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, 2:00,566
08. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, 2:00.990
09. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Sauber, 2:01.044
10. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, 2:03,537
11. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, 1:36,345
12. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, 1:36.473
13. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, 1:36.478
14. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Bull Racing, 1:36.553
15. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, 1:36,677
16. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, 1:37,632
17. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, 1:37,720
18. Alex Albon (T), Williams, 1:37,812
19. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, 1:37,892
20. Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, 1:37,923