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Verstappen hopeful for race despite qualifying strategy change

20:35, 21 Jul 2018

byJake Williams-Smith

Max Verstappen says he is hopeful despite Red Bull being forced to change their strategy halfway through Q2. Marcus Ericsson brought out the red flags for debris on the track, ruining Verstappen's lap on the soft compound tyres.

Speaking to media after qualifying, Verstappen admitted that the difference in power between Red Bull and Ferrari and Mercedes meant that the second row was the best he could hope for.

"You have to be realistic. When you're lacking so much horsepower, it's not going to solve itself. Fourth is the best we could do.

"The car is quick, and we're starting forward so a lot is possible.

"Hopefully we can be a bit closer than of course what we were in qualifying, but I'm confident we can be."

Despite being forced into a strategy change, the Dutchman still felt as though a strong race was on the cards.

"Looking back at it we could have qualified on the soft," he added

"Everybody is starting on an ultra," he said. "So I think also in terms of start performance it will be better to be on the ultra."

Verstappen's teammate Daniel Ricciardo will be starting the grand prix from the back of the grid however after Red Bull opted to change power unit parts before the Hungarian Grand Prix, a circuit much better suited to the Red Bull car.