Norris crash gave Lambiase crucial idea says Max: 'It was the right call'

20:59, 19 Apr

byNorberto Mujica

Qualifying was going as usual, until Lando Norris found the wall in Q3. Max Verstappen has highlighted his race engineer's, Gianpiero Lambiase's approach, which proved critical to his pole position in Jeddah.

In the end, it's been 'hit and miss' for Red Bull and Verstappen with the RB21. And in Jeddah it was a definite hit, as the Dutchman said during the FIA post-qualifying press conference.

"I mean you just keep on trying to fine tune of course-- well before qualifying to find that perfect balance. We tried a lot of set up directions again this weekend, and I think we chose the right one going into qualifying. And then, of course, it's basically just fine-tuning all the way through that."

"We are learning. We are trying to understand our car a lot better, because it really has been a bit more hit and miss than we would have liked, I think so far this year. So, again a positive that we did get it right here."

Lambiase's reaction crucial for Verstappen's pole

But in the end, Red Bull also reacted well to Norris' crash in the early stages of Q3. All due to Lambiase's input says Verstappen.

"And then, with the crash, I think the only thing that it then meant was that, of course, you had to change your approach. And I wasn't entirely sure what to do. And at the end of the day, GP [Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen's race engineer, ed.), said, 'let's fuel it for for two laps, so you do the first lap on that used out lap tyre and then you pit and you go on to the new.'"

"Of course naturally you carry a bit more fuel so you have it slower in the first time and I think it was the right call at the end that was definitely the right thing to do for for me at least in terms of the feeling I had with the car and building up to to the limit."