While Max Verstappen was positively surprised with finishing in third position at the first qualifying session of the season, but the Dutchman is not confident about the gap to McLaren.
After the two free practice sessions on Friday, Verstappen explained he would be happy with just getting through to Q3 today in qualifying. Not only he managed to achieve that, but he also match Helmut Marko's prediction. The Austrian top advisor said finishing on the second row is possible.
"The car did improve slightly compared to yesterday, but the gap you see in Q3 shows that we are not there yet," the Dutchman told Viaplay after qualifying.
What does Verstappen expect from the Grand Prix?
"The balance wasn't wrong, but it's just a bit too slow. You have to accept that. It's the first race weekend, hopefully we can make strides with the car now, but it's obviously a big gap."
Verstappen himself was satisfied with his own performance at the Albert Park, and cited that as a key for his resutl. "Not making any mistakes, I don't think I did either. In itself, I am happy with the performance of Q1, Q2 and Q3."
However, he believes Sunday will be different, given the foreshadowed race pace of Ferrari and Mercedes. Also, rain will very likely play a key factor. "I don't think we have the race pace of McLaren and relative to Ferrari and Mercedes it is difficult. I didn't do many laps in FP2 either. So I don't know how long my tyres will last. Tomorrow there is also quite a chance of rain, then it will be very different again."
This article was written in collaboration with Tim Kraaij
Want more Formula 1? Then follow GPblog on our various social media channels!
X | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
Thats a Hamilton fan dream ?
I’m putting 100$ that it ain’t gonna happen
Because lots of his fans aren’t fond of Max because of 2021, and aren’t big fans of Russell either because he beat Lewis in 22 and 24.
Not all of them of course, I’m talking about those “a little out there” kinda fans. Obsessive/Stalkerish ones like 44* for example
But it’s just a joke at the end of the day
Yeah you have point, I can see it. It was just a dumb joke but let’s see the start. Anything can happen
Why not include McLaren fans?
The facts are there's been words between these 2 drivers . One said he would out the other into the wall. The other says he won't be bullied.
So can you understand why folks are saying there might be coming together between these drivers ?
**** DISCLAIMER ****
This is a THIRD list of respectful quotes by 44x7Legend. He is only here to insult and bully others. Think about your mental well-being. Safe yourself the abuse and ignore him.
"I'm sure the tears you've been crying for the past 7 hours are real"
"You're the one crying and having a public meltdown"
"At this rate you won't survive the day without a total meltdown."
"It's to embarrass yourself in front of the entire blog whilst you act out this private meltdown "
"I have always said he is a scumbag"
"people like me fan the flames you made."
"you are showing me how badly I've hurt you and what mental anguish you must be going through"
"And when have you EVER written a post that was not worthless?"
"Don't you see how your presence here and your attitude, proves my incessant babbling about how terrible you Max fans are"
"You'd be giving each other reach-arounds if you were in the same room together."
"which Max fan will take the hypocrite of the year award. :)"
"The posts might be seen as hateful to you but that's by design."
"such a feeble-minded bunch"
"Fester in your own bitterness."
"You have no legitimacy and will deserve everything coming to you."
"it takes a certain type of person to support someone like Max and Red Bull."
"then you will need intelligene and the ability to debate in an adult, sophisticated manner. Unfortunately, you possess neither of those qualities"
"I would hate for Max fan trolls to give me any incentive to be civil to them. Ugh!!"
"You're too dumb to even realise it."
The car was definitely not the second best car in the field but it was Max's performance that again dragged it further up the field than where it rightly should be.
Here we go again and it's only the first race in.... So like last year with Perez is Lawson now the benchmark for the RB and anything above him is purely down to Verstappen?.....
Owh boy...
No, it's the McLaren that is the benchmark for Max' Red Bull...or the Ferrari...or the Merc?
Take your pick, but how dare someone take the other Red Bull as an indication for the performance of the car...
You honestly think that Lawson, who performed well last season, let's be honest about that, would not have made Q3 in for example a McLaren?
Bar a crash or technical difficulties, I'm 100% certain that he would have sailed into Q3... I would even put my mortgage + a couple of kids on it ?
Lawson hasn't raced there before, also he'll need time to adapt to a car designed for Max...
Come on Joost now your coming up with hypothetical questions
Long run data suggests the teams are close, let's wait and see before suggesting the RB is on par with Sauber and it's Super Max to the rescue.
**** DISCLAIMER ****
This is a THIRD list of respectful quotes by 44x7Legend. He is only here to insult and bully others. Think about your mental well-being. Safe yourself the abuse and ignore him.
"I'm sure the tears you've been crying for the past 7 hours are real"
"You're the one crying and having a public meltdown"
"At this rate you won't survive the day without a total meltdown."
"It's to embarrass yourself in front of the entire blog whilst you act out this private meltdown "
"I have always said he is a scumbag"
"people like me fan the flames you made."
"you are showing me how badly I've hurt you and what mental anguish you must be going through"
"And when have you EVER written a post that was not worthless?"
"Don't you see how your presence here and your attitude, proves my incessant babbling about how terrible you Max fans are"
"You'd be giving each other reach-arounds if you were in the same room together."
"which Max fan will take the hypocrite of the year award. :)"
"The posts might be seen as hateful to you but that's by design."
"such a feeble-minded bunch"
"Fester in your own bitterness."
"You have no legitimacy and will deserve everything coming to you."
"it takes a certain type of person to support someone like Max and Red Bull."
"then you will need intelligene and the ability to debate in an adult, sophisticated manner. Unfortunately, you possess neither of those qualities"
"I would hate for Max fan trolls to give me any incentive to be civil to them. Ugh!!"
"You're too dumb to even realise it."
Perez was the only one that got a decent run at it but succumbed to the pressure.... That car is built for Verstappen the others didn't get a chance to adapt doesn't help with Marko sniping in the background, who needs enemies with friends like him.... When they put a proven race winner alongside Max then we'll get a true benchmark.
Well if only RB had the balls to stop employing inexperience or B grade drivers.
You don't get a benchmark at all unless you have another known top driver in the 2nd seat who gets an equal crack of the whip by having the car as comfortable for him as it is for Max.
Then we can discuss benchmarks.
Untill then, you're putting up low ranked drivers as a benchmark when they clearly are not.
Yes, that is what I mean. Just as I mean it from 2023.
So do you now accept my argument, or.. are you actually confused as to what my argument really is?
There are many variables and reasons why things happen the way they do. But I know some like to dismiss those if it doesn't suit their narrative.
**** Disclaimer ****
ANOTHER list full of insults and bullying behaviour. Watch out with reacting to 44x7Legend. Think about your mental well-being. Safe yourself the abuse.
"going to take a while for the toxic side-effects of working for Red Bull to work its way out of Newey's system. The 'infection', metaphorically speaking, might take a season or two to leave him."
"Death threats for Latifi were ridiculous also. Red Bull I assume got some too but, again, they deserved a fair bit of that."
"the next troll to come along with the same hair-brained idea that trying to provoke me"
"but you cry into your dress about me giving it back."
"This is a topic that is way above your pay-grade. I don't expect closed-minded Max fans to grasp or accept the facts"
"the more I get to write posts that trigger people like you. Wonderful isn't it?"
"Yes I'm happy owning trolls like you. It's what they deserve."
"he is a traumatised butthurt troll"
"Bunch of idiots. :)"
"I use Max as one way to retaliate against troll assholes like you. He's a tool (literally)"
"which Max fan will take the hypocrite of the year award."
"You are really not with it are you?"
"If you have a life, then piss off and live it."
"You either really dim"
"If you're not smart enough to understand that then you'll end you days on this Earth just being wrong and ignorant."
"When was the last time you strung a paragraph together that was readable?"
"What's your source? You're own failing neurons?"
"Fester in your own bitterness."
"That's because you're an angry old cretin"
"You are one sad, bitter and twisted little twat."
"Trolls like you will never experience that because they prefer their lonely bitter world"
Well, your benchmark list last year from his teammate. This year he starts also behind his benchmark. That what you mean?
Off course, Lawson is half of the benchmark, Verstappen the other half. And when you see that other rookies like Hadjar, Doohan and Bortoleto can get into Q2, and Lawson couldn't, the RB looks not that fast or at least difficult to handle. So off course people are gonna praise Verstappen, he did a great job getting that car into the second row.
Verstappen did do a good job, but we're only one race in so have no idea where everyone stands.
Lawson hasn't raced here before, also driving a car designed around Verstappen he'll need time to adapt.
It's just like last year though always downplaying the car in order to big up Verstappen, rather than admit he like every other driver in the modern era needs a decent car under him to win, as proven last year when he didn't have the car he didn't win.
I'm just saying it's too early to know where everyone is... Unlike 2 Max fans yesterday who suggested Lewis is past it after FP1! Ridiculous.
By some people's standards your last paragraph would be enough reason for me to start ridiculing you and every Hamilton fan for glorification of the almighty Lewis.
Yeah i can agree with your last post.
"Lawson hasn't raced here before, also driving a car designed around Verstappen he'll need time to adapt."
Definitely.
"Unlike 2 Max fans yesterday who suggested Lewis is past it after FP1! Ridiculous."
Lewis was close to Leclerc in his first quali in a new car, so that was not bad at all. Better then most expected i think.
You cannot measure a benchmark using a semi-rookie driver that has not raced in Australia in F1 before.
You think Lawson in P18 is a true representation of where RB is???
This is your benchmark?
"and Lawson couldn't, the RB looks not that fast or at least difficult to handle."
This is flawed logic. You can flip that by saying Max in 3rd means it IS that fast and not so difficult to handle after all. It's just that Lawson sucked in quali and made too many mistakes.
So maybe consider that Lawson was very sub-par. Tsunoda would have been a better choice, as would Sainz. But RB have to protect Max from internal threats, so they choose drivers that won't show what the RB car can do.
But this is all to glorify Max, that's why Max fans have been conversations.
That's all its for.
For all we know, Norris or LeClerc could have put in a quicker lap in that RB than Max did.
Benchmarking is usually done based off the best of the two drivers.
You don't take both, stick a line down the middle and say "that's it".
Well the discussion is not about giving Verstappen credit though, is it?
It's about benchmarks, and my argument is that you cannot determine that from this quali session. Nor will you be able to do it from the race.
What if in the next race, Lawson beats Verstappen. Now where is the benchmark?
I think learning about how a benchmark is established and what methods are used is better than guesswork or biased assumptions.
F1 has way too many variables too.
"I am not a fanboy of Max and i can appreciate all good performances."
Good stuff.
**** Disclaimer ****
ANOTHER list full of insults and bullying behaviour. Watch out with reacting to 44x7Legend. Think about your mental well-being. Safe yourself the abuse.
"going to take a while for the toxic side-effects of working for Red Bull to work its way out of Newey's system. The 'infection', metaphorically speaking, might take a season or two to leave him."
"Death threats for Latifi were ridiculous also. Red Bull I assume got some too but, again, they deserved a fair bit of that."
"the next troll to come along with the same hair-brained idea that trying to provoke me"
"but you cry into your dress about me giving it back."
"This is a topic that is way above your pay-grade. I don't expect closed-minded Max fans to grasp or accept the facts"
"the more I get to write posts that trigger people like you. Wonderful isn't it?"
"Yes I'm happy owning trolls like you. It's what they deserve."
"he is a traumatised butthurt troll"
"Bunch of idiots. :)"
"I use Max as one way to retaliate against troll assholes like you. He's a tool (literally)"
"which Max fan will take the hypocrite of the year award."
"You are really not with it are you?"
"If you have a life, then piss off and live it."
"You either really dim"
"If you're not smart enough to understand that then you'll end you days on this Earth just being wrong and ignorant."
"When was the last time you strung a paragraph together that was readable?"
"What's your source? You're own failing neurons?"
"Fester in your own bitterness."
"That's because you're an angry old cretin"
"You are one sad, bitter and twisted little twat."
"Trolls like you will never experience that because they prefer their lonely bitter world"
"Because then you'd be arguing that RB are both solid and sucking at the same time.
You can't have two benchmarks for the same car."
The benchmark can be in the middle of the performances of both drivers, obviously. Which it is imo, because of both the arguments: Max being an exceptional driver and Lawson being a rookie on a new track.
"Again, it's all about glorifying Verstappen. How about Verstappen didn't overperform but he put the car where any of the top drivers would have?"
It's not about glorification, it is about giving credit when it is deserved.
Some other top drivers might have done the same, some might not. You can never know. But if other top drivers did the same, i would praise them too. I am not a fanboy of Max and i can appreciate all good performances.
"Why can't it be both?"
Because then you'd be arguing that RB are both solid and sucking at the same time.
You can't have two benchmarks for the same car.
Again, it's all about glorifying Verstappen. How about Verstappen didn't overperform but he put the car where any of the top drivers would have?
It's not about giving Max credit. You will never give him criticism.
It's about doing away with speculation and assumptions and focussing on things that can be proven and are more factual.
Any speculation and assumption can be challenged.
I will concentrate on what I want to.
"This is flawed logic. You can flip that by saying Max in 3rd means it IS that fast and not so difficult to handle after all. It's just that Lawson sucked in quali and made too many mistakes."
Why can't it be both?
Given the extremely big gap, it is probably is both. Verstappen overperformed and Lawson underperformed. But being on this blog for a while, i know you will never give Max any credit. To me it was impressive once again, great job.
I also gave a sincere compliment to Lewis in my post. Interesting that you choose to concentrate on the negative.
**** Disclaimer ****
ANOTHER list full of insults and bullying behaviour. Watch out with reacting to 44x7Legend. Think about your mental well-being. Safe yourself the abuse.
"going to take a while for the toxic side-effects of working for Red Bull to work its way out of Newey's system. The 'infection', metaphorically speaking, might take a season or two to leave him."
"Death threats for Latifi were ridiculous also. Red Bull I assume got some too but, again, they deserved a fair bit of that."
"the next troll to come along with the same hair-brained idea that trying to provoke me"
"but you cry into your dress about me giving it back."
"This is a topic that is way above your pay-grade. I don't expect closed-minded Max fans to grasp or accept the facts"
"the more I get to write posts that trigger people like you. Wonderful isn't it?"
"Yes I'm happy owning trolls like you. It's what they deserve."
"he is a traumatised butthurt troll"
"Bunch of idiots. :)"
"I use Max as one way to retaliate against troll assholes like you. He's a tool (literally)"
"which Max fan will take the hypocrite of the year award."
"You are really not with it are you?"
"If you have a life, then piss off and live it."
"You either really dim"
"If you're not smart enough to understand that then you'll end you days on this Earth just being wrong and ignorant."
"When was the last time you strung a paragraph together that was readable?"
"What's your source? You're own failing neurons?"
"Fester in your own bitterness."
"That's because you're an angry old cretin"
"You are one sad, bitter and twisted little twat."
"Trolls like you will never experience that because they prefer their lonely bitter world"
That's how it works for them. I've literally seen Max fans write that Perez is where the car is and Max makes the difference. :)
And let's not forget... McLaren have both titles sewn up already and the titles are there's to lose. :)
Well if RB have sunk that far to where Lawson is, then Max truly is the greatest, LOL!
It's wonderful when you can get so much joy from the validations Max fans need to put on themselves for the sake of glorifying their chosen one.
Lol...Absolutely, it's funny how far they go....... Just wait untill the hardcore worshippers that you can't have a conversation with wake up.... : )
Haha. A couple have already. They've finished their warm milk and rusks.
Who would have thought that RB would by the 9th fastest team out of 10? For Max to put it 3rd in the grid?..... praise the lord Jesus... oh glory be. Powered by RBPT = Religious Bullshitters Prefer Trolling. ('R' could also be Red Bull) :D
**** DISCLAIMER ****
This is a THIRD list of respectful quotes by 44x7Legend. He is only here to insult and bully others. Think about your mental well-being. Safe yourself the abuse and ignore him.
"I'm sure the tears you've been crying for the past 7 hours are real"
"You're the one crying and having a public meltdown"
"At this rate you won't survive the day without a total meltdown."
"It's to embarrass yourself in front of the entire blog whilst you act out this private meltdown "
"I have always said he is a scumbag"
"people like me fan the flames you made."
"you are showing me how badly I've hurt you and what mental anguish you must be going through"
"And when have you EVER written a post that was not worthless?"
"Don't you see how your presence here and your attitude, proves my incessant babbling about how terrible you Max fans are"
"You'd be giving each other reach-arounds if you were in the same room together."
"which Max fan will take the hypocrite of the year award. :)"
"The posts might be seen as hateful to you but that's by design."
"such a feeble-minded bunch"
"Fester in your own bitterness."
"You have no legitimacy and will deserve everything coming to you."
"it takes a certain type of person to support someone like Max and Red Bull."
"then you will need intelligene and the ability to debate in an adult, sophisticated manner. Unfortunately, you possess neither of those qualities"
"I would hate for Max fan trolls to give me any incentive to be civil to them. Ugh!!"
"You're too dumb to even realise it."
And what, pray tell, is wrong with someone believing Max dragged more out of the car? Why does it offend you so that someone thinks that? And it's not even that far fetched either because after testing plenty of people felt RB was behind both McLaren and Ferrari.
And Mech didn't say anything about Lawson. That's just you make assumptions. All he said was that Max managed to put the car further up the field than expected.
You can't draw any conclusions from testing nor FP results, we've seen many times cars coming alive during qualy once everything is turned up, it's nothing new....
"offend" not really, dragged it from where exactly? We have no idea where any of the cars stand at the moment it's the first race.... long run data all looked pretty close.... Mech and many others were using Perez as the benchmark last season perhaps I took it from that, but others today are using Lawson...
What's wrong with saying Max did a good job today as I did, why the need as Legend put it "glorification" of Max as if he's scooting round in a Sauber?
Fair enough. I see it differently but I understand your point of view.
It's more to do with the terminology used, "definitely not the second best car" we've got no way of knowing that as I said teams have always sandbagged during testing and FP. Using words like dragging would be a true midfield car being taking into the top.
Horner said in another article they are where they thought they would be after testing, just seems like an excuse to big up Verstappen doing something extraordinary when it isn't.
But that's my point, no one is saying he's scooting around in a Sauber. It could very well be that Mech expected the RB to be where Ferrari are. Which, if I'm honest, is kind of what I was expecting myself. Though I did not expect Ferrari to be out qualified by a Williams and a RB so really in my expectations I was thinking Max on p5 or p6.
Is it all down solely to Max? No of course not. But I do believe Max managed to get that little bit extra out of the car and that's what ultimately put him on p3. That's got nothing to do with glorification, it's just what I believe.
And sure perhaps some of the other top drivers could have done the same but they're not in that car, Max is and me praising Max and saying he put the car in a better spot than expected does not mean I'm glorifying him. It simply means I'm giving him props for doing better than expected.
LOL! I love this. The same excuses every year.
Where is Red Bull this time? 4th fastest? 5th fastest? How much glorification is needed this time?
McLaren wasn't the best in the field either. Norris and Piastri just dragged it further up the field than it rightly should be. And they did it under pressure.
*** Disclaimer ***
Watch out with reacting to a nasty and toxic individual called 44x7Legend. He thrives on insulting and bullying others. These are some quotes from him. Think about your mental well-being. Safe yourself the abuse.
"people hand me a constant supply of fuel, you'll have to deal with the consequences. So sit back and enjoy the 2025 ride to come."
"Obsessive compulsive disorder or a very upset bitter little boy?"
"Fester in your grief little troll, you earned it."
"Trolls like you will never experience that because they prefer their lonely bitter world"
"Go wave your d*ck to someone else. Without me on this blog, you're nothing. You only have relevance because I reply to you."
"Now you'll have to take your frustrations out on your family."
"this sounded like you cried that into your mothers dress. Find some maturity."
"I owned you so badly that you can't get go of the grief."
"I want to see all the crying that ensues"
"I am how I am because of you and people like you. How many times do you need that fact shoving down your throat."
"the more I get to write posts that trigger people like you. Wonderful isn't it?"
"Such a sad w*nker :) I can only imagine the mental effect I've had on him."
"is busy masturbating in front of a mirror."
"You're such an idiot."
"ignorant fool"
"you imbecile"
"What other petty ignorant nonsense do you have for us today?"
"the comebacks you've rightfully given to that dried up anal drip."
"I am a lot better than you, mate. I can be dumb and still figure that out."
"A little bit premature there, just like your ejaculations."
"then you will need intelligene and the ability to debate in an adult, sophisticated manner. Unfortunately, you possess neither of those qualities"
"The posts might be seen as hateful to you but that's by design."
