Grand Prix is "a bit of a question mark" for Verstappen and Red Bull
Red Bull Contentpool
F1 News
Max Verstappen thinks there is a "bit of a question mark" surrounding his and Red Bull's chances at victory at the Qatar Grand Prix. The Dutchman took a surprise pole position at the Losail International Circuit in qualifying, and although he had to give that place back to George Russell due to a penalty, he is still not sure what sort of pace he will have come Sunday's race.
Just hours before qualifying for the Grand Prix, Verstappen could not close the gap to the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg in the sprint race, highlighting the lack of speed the RB20 had in the Middle East. However, just a session later, the four-time world champion turned it around and pipped Russell to pole by +0.055 seconds when the chequered flag fell with a stunning lap.
"I think from the first lap in Q1, it felt a lot more promising," Verstappen said after qualifying. "But then to get the tyres in the right window is very tough. So then it went away a little bit, then it came back again. And then, luckily for Q3, I think it was there and, very happy with how we turned it around."
Verstappen unsure about pace after stewards take away pole
However, after the session and this interview, the 27-year-old had to visit the stewards, and from there, he received a one-place grid penalty for driving unnecessarily slowing a cool-down lap and impeding Russell. As a result, the Mercedes driver will start the race from pole, while Verstappen will drop down to P2.
Starting from second on the grid, Verstappen will try to take victory in Qatar, but the competition is fierce, with Russell's fast Mercedes in front of him, and behind him the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. As a result, the Dutchman does not know what his Red Bull can accomplish in the Grand Prix.
"It's still a bit of a question mark. I did feel that yesterday we were not too far off in qualifying [for the sprint race], and then we were way off in the sprint. So this is great to be on pole, but I'm not sure yet if it's going to be, let's say, enough, you know, to really be the outright fastest," Verstappen concluded.
This article was created in collaboration with Ludo van Denderen
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