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reaction verstappen after sprint pole

Verstappen happy with sprint pole: 'Don't know why gap is so big'

1 July 2023 at 12:12
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  • Toby McLuskie

Max Verstappen keeps on winning in Formula 1. This time he was fastest in the Sprint Shootout, allowing him to start the sprint race from pole position later on Saturday. It does not yet earn the Dutchman any points, but it shows once again that the Red Bull Racing driver is in incredible form.

Verstappen expressed his happiness on camera afterwards. Because of the conditions and the short format, it was paying close attention to the reigning world champion. "It got drier and drier, we went faster lap after lap. We had to be on the track at the right moments. We didn't have many laps, so few opportunities. I think we did well, the balance in the car was good. I'm happy to finish first."

The difference with Charles Leclerc's Ferrari in qualifying yesterday was just half a tenth. Now Carlos Sainz is the first Ferrari driver in fifth place. Why the gap is now suddenly more than half a second? "I don't know why. Of course, the weather has changed a bit. The track is also not completely dry yet, the important thing is that our car is still fast, so we will see this afternoon how it goes."

Track limits and possible penalties

Track limits were an issue not only in Friday's qualifying but also in the Sprint Shootout. If a driver colours outside the lines too often in the sprint race or race, he risks a five-second time penalty. To what extent track limits will play a role in the two races? "It's quite tricky. In qualifying you really go the limit, so in the race we are less affected by it, but it will remain a challenge for all drivers," Verstappen concluded.