'If Verstappen starts on pole more often he will be very difficult to beat'

10:06, 22 Jun 2022
52 Comments

Max Verstappen has two pole positions compared to six for Charles Leclerc in the 2022 Formula One season. Yet the numbers are reversed when it comes to wins. Combined with his large lead in the championship, this is, according to The Race this is a reflection of his top performance in the current season.

The Ferrari is generally the faster car on Saturday but usually loses out to Red Bull Racing's RB18 on Sunday. In addition, the Italian team has missed so many opportunities that Verstappen has won more times when Leclerc was on pole than the Ferrari driver himself. This was the case in Miami, Spain and Baku.

Verstappen a threat to his rivals

Verstappen, on the other hand, has only started from pole twice but managed to convert those into victory both times. His Red Bull is particularly strong in the race and only seems to get stronger. Combined with the fact that Ferrari shot themselves in the foot a couple of times, this serves as a warning to Verstappen's rivals, according to Scott Mitchell of The Race.

"If Verstappen’s capable of winning this much and building this big a points advantage while battling certain limitations, what’s still to come if Red Bull makes its car that little bit more potent?" says Mitchell.

"should be very worried about him becoming a greater qualifying threat," he continued. "Put Verstappen on pole position more often at the level he’s at and he will be an opponent that Ferrari struggles to beat even if it does stop being so wasteful."

52 Comments
MikeyG 22 June 2022 at 23:48+ 613

The same goes for most folk with the quickest car, after all RB are quick to credit Mercedes and not LH for the last 8 years, so I guess MV is just a lucky child with this years quickest car…even though he hasn’t got much talent….like LH didn’t have for 8 years either ?

Ashysdad 22 June 2022 at 12:54+ 565

Redbull is the fastest car, have to laugh at people saying Ferrari all round is faster. Yes on pole day it's great at one lap. Anything other than that and it's ok. Sainz proved it on Sunday without Safety car he was never catching Max. And when he did he couldn't pass with 3 DRS zones. Now how is Ferrari quicker. Or is it that you don't want it to be quicker in your own heads and then Max won't be pike Lewis winning with the fastest car. He also had the better car last year until mercedes matched them in the last few races. And we all know that spa was a mess with 3 laps behind a safety car and he gets a win. Abu Dhabi well we all know. When he gets 4 championship like Vettel in a redbull let us know. Remember if his car was not any good he would have finished like he di the previous 5 years before he became champion. And that was mostly outside top 3. Plus Horner knows he has the best car and moans about Mercedes going to FIA about porpoising. Max left Lewis for dead on Sunday when he passed him. Sainz couldn't leave max nor pass him on Sunday. And wouldn't have if he tried all day. Because his car was not as fast

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Anoniem-2 22 June 2022 at 13:13+ 7717

I agree with most of your post, the point I don't agree with is Ferrari are faster on qualy, I don't think that's the case it's more to do with Charles been the faster driver over 1 lap hence he's beating max 6-2.

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Game on-x4 22 June 2022 at 14:51+ 46571

You have to watch the whole race and qualy to understand F1........The highlights is not helping you!....Because you are getting it all wrong!!

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Anoniem-2 22 June 2022 at 14:53+ 7717

Whole not hole. And I was talking about qualy not the race.

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Game on-x4 22 June 2022 at 14:57+ 46571

It doesn't matter you get it wrong anyway.........

Hekate 23 June 2022 at 02:22+ 21351

Good point. In qualifying drivers are on the limit, and for that they need to trust the car. Verstappen can't adapt to the car; RB has a stable rear axle, but understeers too much at low fuel for Verstappen's liking. That's why Verstappen is regularly losing in qualifying not only with Leclerc, but sometimes also with Perez, who doesn't mind the understeer so much. As for Canada: Sainz needed DRS, a tow and fresher tyres to gain about 0,1 per lap on Verstappen. Ferrari was not fast enough. Some users here often say top speed doesn't matter, but it's actually the opposite: top speed is crucial. This deficit is why Ferrari can't overtake RB on the straights. Norris sumed it up nicely after the race: he mention their race pace wasn't so bad, but it didn't matter, because their top speed was awful. Williams was able to keep McLaren behind because they had top speed advantage, despite McLaren being overall better car. Same thing with Ferrari and RB, except overall Ferrari is simply not as good as RB.

Simpleh Lovely 22 June 2022 at 14:33+ 15729

Sainz is a rubbish driver losing 8-0 to Leclerc he is not a reference. If he can keep up with Max then that Ferrari is quick

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F1isBack 22 June 2022 at 11:46+ 31513

For Max starting on pole its a minor bonus. When he starts anywhere between 1 -4 on the grid the bookies still post him as favorite for race such is the talent of the man.

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Game on-x4 22 June 2022 at 10:18+ 46571

Verstappen a threat to his rivals and that's why he is World Champion......With only 2 poles and gets 6 wins....Pure great driving!!!

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VeganWarrior 22 June 2022 at 10:20+ 52498

Yip can't argue, when you have the quickest car you don't need to be on pole, you just hilghted the Redbull rocketship dominance.

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Game on-x4 22 June 2022 at 10:22+ 46571

It's called racing!!

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VeganWarrior 22 June 2022 at 10:14+ 52498

Yes the Redbull rocketship package is unbeatable up-front, I mean when you can't pass even with a triple DRS help thats scary dominance from Redbull. Congratulations to the entire Redbull team for getting the regs right and building a dominate car. The fastest car is the Redbull this season.

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Game on-x4 22 June 2022 at 10:21+ 46571

VeganWarrior you have Rocket-ship stuck inside your head!!!....You have got the whole year to go!! Shame on you!

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VeganWarrior 22 June 2022 at 10:27+ 52498

Congratulations to the Redbull team every person should be proud of the Redbull rocketship.

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F1isBack 22 June 2022 at 11:51+ 31513

Of course they should "be proud " Even prouder having the the best driver in the team.

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VeganWarrior 23 June 2022 at 12:41+ 52498

Good driver, in a ridiculously good car, can fool many people. I don't blame you for buying into the hype.

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EauRouge1974 23 June 2022 at 07:59+ 10864

You don't read and just turn arguments around. That is troll behavior. Have a nice day.

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VeganWarrior 23 June 2022 at 07:50+ 52498

The truth is difficult to accept mate. Sorry that you can't accept it but I will just remind you, that for many seasons he has been a good driver, he joined a championship winning team, the 3rd fastest team. He achieved good results and benefited when the top 2 teams suffered crashes DNFs, like any driver would in the 3rd fastest car. He won his first WC with lost of help , and this season he has the quickest car. I would always expect a.good driver to do well in those circumstances mate .

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EauRouge1974 23 June 2022 at 07:44+ 10864

The whole blog is telling you that Red Bull doesn't have a rocketship as it is not seconds faster as the second car of the grid like the Merc was for years but you decide to keep trolling! Max has a win strike now of 7/8 in the 2nd fastest car as Binotto says the Ferrari is also the fasest car on racepace now. It's hard for you to accept Verstappen is on his way to become a legend and I understand it. Have a nice day.

MorasB 23 June 2022 at 12:01+ 3255

I thought you were a Hamilton fan. Why do you describe him when you refer to a mediocre driver.

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VeganWarrior 23 June 2022 at 05:19+ 52498

Its truth thats has got you commenting like a 19 year old. Its always been the car for the mediocre one. 7 seasons with the 3 best car getting 3rd best results with the odd podium due to DNFs of the top 2 and finally winning his first WC with a change in regulations that advantaged his team. Not to mention the help from his team mate, Alonso, AT and Masi. So excuse me when I don't by into the hype, cause he is a good driver in a magnificent car this season. Some truth for you morning matey

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EauRouge1974 23 June 2022 at 01:04+ 10864

Red Bull rocketship. ??. If I did not know better I would think you were our often drunk friend Shaka. The Mercedes rocketship finally flew to the moon ?. And there is no Red Bull rocketship. The Ferrari is slightly faster thinks Mattia. Your even a bad troll! Goodnight!

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VeganWarrior 23 June 2022 at 24:12+ 52498

Simply put, being in F1 for almost 10 years and now finding success, did he suddenly become a better driver ? Its the car mate and you know it. The Redbull rocketship has Pérez challenging for wins. Redbull had the same situation with Vettle, its certainly the car mate don't be foolish nothing else or he would be a multiple WC right now ,which he is not .

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EauRouge1974 22 June 2022 at 20:46+ 10864

Even you know better Vegan. Sad you have to go in troll mode to protect yourself now Hamilton is disappointing. If you deny the facts it doesn't hurt that much. It's completely understandable! I don't count you there. 7 wins out of 8 wins while Ferrari saying they have the fastest car! What a legend Verstappen must be.

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VeganWarrior 22 June 2022 at 19:22+ 52498

Nothing but a good driver , thats all. The quickets car mate, you know it. 7 seasons then the car gets better and presto. . The truth is hard to accept, it's okay mate .

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EauRouge1974 22 June 2022 at 19:04+ 10864

7/8 wins in not even the best car mate. The Ferrari is slightly faster, says even Binotto the last three raceweekends. The guy is a living legend. Hamilton could not win half of the races in the extreme dominant 2014-2020 Merc! Hard to accept isn't it. ?

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VeganWarrior 22 June 2022 at 18:04+ 52498

He is no better than the car mate, simple explanation., hard for you to accept but the truth.

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EauRouge1974 22 June 2022 at 17:43+ 10864

No, but his archievements were also in those years extraordinary. In his first years in F1 (as youngest driver and race winner ever) he learned fast but of course made mistakes as part of his expected learning curve. Rrrrrroy explained to you how special he drove in the 3rd best car of the grid against the extreme dominant Mercedes. Now he has a competitive car for 2 years he proves to be phenomenal. Unbeatable this year with 7/8 wins in the last 10 races with 2 technical DNF's. Hamilton proves to be good, but nothing better than the car he drives.

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VeganWarrior 22 June 2022 at 17:12+ 52498

Yip like Max was a good driver for 7 seasons

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EauRouge1974 22 June 2022 at 16:27+ 10864

The Lewis who was the best driver flew to the moon in his rocketship in the 2014-2020 years. ? Not on earth in an F1 car anymore. Now he is a good driver as many on the grid.

MorasB 23 June 2022 at 11:56+ 3255

And Lewis is the wingman for Russell. The best of the B grade drivers.

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VeganWarrior 22 June 2022 at 13:17+ 52498

Lewis is at Mercedes mate ?

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DingDonger 22 June 2022 at 12:29+ 1258

I wonder if you would survive if everyone would ignore you

Let'sGoLando 22 June 2022 at 10:32+ 410

I disagree with you. Ferrari proves in qualification that they are faster than Redbull. The only difference is that straight line speed is much more important in a race than in qualification, because you can attack and defence much easier. In Canada Sainz couldn't overtake, but not only because of the straight line speed. If you watch the last laps you can see Max his exits through the last turns are very good compaired to Sainz's. A gap of 0,8 seconds isn't close enough to overtake even for a Redbull. I think Sainz really had 1 chance to overtake and that was when he was around 0,5 seconds away from the Redbull. But then Max positioned the car very well. Instead of constantly saying the Redbull is a rocketship, you can also give more credits to their driver, because Max is on another level this year and you can't deny that.

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VeganWarrior 22 June 2022 at 11:28+ 52498

I would love to do that but the narrative its all the car is one that I have been hearing for so long that as a Mercedes fan. I find it hilarious that the Redbull car is now the dominant one on the grid now and its the driver . Which is it ?

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TestLab Hamster nr44 22 June 2022 at 11:35+ 5148

Well Toto did say the Mercedes is a sh#tbox. Maybe reconsider who you support?

HeinHH 22 June 2022 at 11:50+ 3

Reacting to "Which is it?" Just because there are black and white situations, doesn't mean colour does not exist. The opinion that at least some of Lewis Hamilton's world champion titles were largely due to the dominant car he had at his disposal does not mean all of his titles were thanks to a dominant car, nor does it mean he isn't a worthy champion of any given season. Regarding the current season; I belief it is both too early to name the Red Bull car the dominant car in comparison to Ferrari's and also too early to state that if Max Verstappen wins this year's championship, that was mainly due to his dominant car and less because of his qualities of a driver.

Let'sGoLando 22 June 2022 at 13:20+ 410

The problem with your way of thinking is that in your point of view only the Redbull is strong. But I think the Redbull and the Ferrari are both equally strong, they only have other strenghts. Max has to beat 3 drivers and he constantly does so. Equal cars and he come sout the best. I'm not saying Hamilton isn't good and it was all the car, but the Mercedes was way more dominant compared to the other teams. He only had to beat his teammate to become champion and that wasn't that hard. That's the difference.

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Mech Engineer 22 June 2022 at 10:35+ 55083

Well, the RB is not really the fastest car as Max couldn't get pass Russell for many laps. It is just Max's driving ability that allows him to overtake others. Even if he doesnt start at the front, he seems to be able to overtake and win races (apart from tracks like Monaco which has limited overtaking opportunities) Leclerc, as an example, wins races only when he starts on pole. Max on the other hand, has won many of his races when he did not start on P1. He has had 15 pole positions in his F1 career, but has won 26 races. As a comparison, Hamilton has 103 pole as well as 103 wins. Just shows how dominant the cars he has been driving has been, over a span of about 8 years.

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VeganWarrior 22 June 2022 at 11:30+ 52498

Max had DRS issues and Russell is the better driver so that's not a valid point mate .

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F1King33 22 June 2022 at 10:37+ 6684

Well said mate, It is not perfect car , but whole package is very very competitive. Thanks to Mr Newey in first place, with car aero design. RB as team as well did great job and learnt a lot from last year battle with best team in last decade - MB. They have improved power unit , last year they lacked straight speed , so it seems RB are doing great job and having right direction at the moment. But there are still 13 races to go, too early to conclude season.

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LunarTic 22 June 2022 at 13:12+ 9855

Yeah! Congrats to RBR! Luckily they don't have an undriveable car with an incompetent team who cannot fix the "mistakes" they have inflicted upon themselves. I'm glad RBR has the dominant car this season and Max behind the wheel again. Maybe they will sign Stroll next to give him a chance at a world title after Perez

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VeganWarrior 22 June 2022 at 13:15+ 52498

"I'm glad RBR has the dominant car this season......" Yip I agree , Stroll could actually win a Redbull, be careful what you wish for mate.

JEM 22 June 2022 at 15:51+ 12716

Here is a link to a more knowledgable person that investigate the power units from the team. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0QRnlWAzeZc Spoiler, indeed the Red Bull seems to be better, but contrary to your statement, it is only marginal.

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VeganWarrior 22 June 2022 at 17:17+ 52498

Thanks for that, will give it watch. The crux is Redbull is the quickest? Will see the details of the analysis thanks Jem.

Simpleh Lovely 22 June 2022 at 10:12+ 15729

The problem is Max doesn't have the quickest car the Ferrari has been quickest on balance across the season. But give Max the best car he'll win 20/23 races in a year, smash every record in the book. Lew in 2014 had a car 1-2 seconds quicker than the field yet could only win 4/9. Max in 2022 with a car marginally slower than the Ferrari, at best a tenth or so better on a track that suits RBR but generally a few tenths down on Ferrari has won 6/9 races depite two retirements through no fault of his own in that span. He's phenomanal.

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EauRouge1974 22 June 2022 at 11:35+ 10864

Boom! Facts! All there is too say about the current champion of Formula 1. 6/9 and 2 technical DNF without having the best car let alone having a dominant car. Hail for the new king. Can someone comfort the old king please? He is spotted crying at the FIA office in worrying health condition.

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F1isBack 22 June 2022 at 11:48+ 31513

7 from 8 finishes. You forget Abu Dhabi? Sacrilege.

Simpleh Lovely 22 June 2022 at 12:24+ 15729

What are you talking about?

Simpleh Lovely 22 June 2022 at 14:32+ 15729

Okay I see what he means. Yes 7 of the last 8 not sure why it didn’t register. Get in there

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EauRouge1974 22 June 2022 at 13:31+ 10864

I think F1isBack wants to add the important AD win to the current list of Max ?. 7 wins in 8 finishes and 2 technical DNF's in his last 10 races... without having the best, let alone a dominant car. Max Verstappen is the absolute king of F1 at the moment.