Verstappen Aims to 'Survive' Qatar Sprint, Plans Changes for Main Event
Max Verstappen struggled in Sprint Qualifying at the Qatar GP, finishing P6 and expressing dissatisfaction with his car's balance. He aims to 'survive' Saturday's Sprint race before Red Bull makes significant setup changes for the main qualifying session and Grand Prix. This rare stumble could allow rivals like Piastri and Norris to capitalize on points, though Verstappen's championship lead remains secure. The team is focused on understanding and rectifying the balance issues.
Max Verstappen found himself in an unfamiliar position during Sprint Qualifying at the Qatar GP, finishing a disappointing sixth. The Dutchman candidly expressed his frustrations, stating, "With this balance, it will not be a lot of fun," as he looks to "survive" Saturday's Sprint race before making crucial adjustments for the main qualifying session and Grand Prix.
Why it matters:
- For the first time since the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Verstappen was out-qualified by his teammate, a rare occurrence that highlights the challenges Red Bull faced in Sprint Qualifying.
- With championship rivals like Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris starting from P1 and P3 respectively in the Sprint, Verstappen's struggles could impact the points available, though his overall championship lead remains substantial.
- The issues faced in Sprint Qualifying, particularly the balance problems, raise questions about Red Bull's immediate performance on this specific circuit, especially after a single practice session.
The details:
- Verstappen's first lap in SQ3 at the Losail International Circuit saw him go wide in Turn 4, contributing to his sixth-place finish.
- Post-session, Verstappen described the RB21's issues: "Not good from the first lap. Just really bad bouncing and very aggressive understeer that would shift into oversteer at high-speed."
- He further elaborated, "Just not what you want to go fast. We were locked in. We tried to change a few things on the wheel but it never really worked, so it made it quite tricky."
- When asked about changes made from the sole free practice session to Sprint Qualifying, Verstappen admitted, "We changed a few things but it wasn't working well, so it's something we need to understand."
What's next:
- Verstappen's immediate focus is on navigating Saturday's Sprint race, where a maximum of eight points are available. He views it as a "survival" mission given the current car balance.
- The team plans to use the Sprint to gather more data and identify what went wrong, with the intention of making significant setup changes ahead of the Grand Prix Qualifying session later today.
- Overcoming these balance issues will be crucial for Verstappen to reassert his dominance and maintain his consistent championship form as the weekend progresses.