‘It’s a motivation boost’ – Verstappen admits surprise over P2 result in China Sprint Qualifying
Verstappen Finds Motivation in P2 Finish at Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying
Max Verstappen expressed his surprise and satisfaction after securing P2 in Sprint Qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix, admitting that the result provided a “motivation boost” for Red Bull on a day when a front-row start seemed unlikely.
Unexpected Front-Row Finish
Verstappen’s preparation for Sprint Qualifying was far from ideal. A late red flag in the only practice session of the weekend meant he didn’t get a flying lap on soft tires before heading into qualifying. Despite this, he narrowly missed out on pole position, finishing just 0.018s behind Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton in SQ3.
When asked whether missing out on pole by such a small margin was frustrating, Verstappen remained positive. “I’m very happy. In the first practice, we were quite a bit off, so honestly, I’m very happy to be on the front row.”
The Dutchman acknowledged the challenge of transitioning from medium to soft tires without prior references, adding, “Of course, when you look at it, it was 18 hundredths off pole, but I don’t think we should have even been on the front row anyway, so I’m very happy to be second.”
Car Setup and Red Bull’s Performance
Verstappen revealed that Red Bull did not make major changes to the RB21 ahead of Sprint Qualifying, saying, “Nothing dramatic, because I don’t think the balance is massively off. We’re just too slow, I would say!”
Despite the pace struggles, he emphasized that the result was a confidence boost for the team. “This is good for us—it’s a little motivation boost for everyone to keep nailing the laps, keep trying to maximize everything we’ve got, especially when we’re struggling a bit more for pace.”
McLaren Still a Threat
While McLaren showed strong pace in practice, they ultimately qualified P3 and P6 with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, respectively. However, Verstappen remains wary of their race pace in the Sprint.
“They looked very fast up until that last run, so I think it will be very hard to keep them behind. But hopefully, it will be fun. We are all… I wouldn’t say close, but at least we can race a bit around. That would be nice for me.”
Looking Ahead to the Sprint
With Verstappen starting alongside Hamilton on the front row, Red Bull will be aiming to capitalize on the result and fight for victory in the Sprint. While McLaren remains a threat, Verstappen’s strong qualifying performance has given the team a much-needed confidence boost as they look to challenge Ferrari at the front.
