Verstappen "disappointed" with Eifel GP qualifying result
Max Verstappen admitted he was disappointed to lose out on pole position to Mercedes at the Eifel Grand Prix, after his final Q3 run was blighted by understeer.
The Red Bull driver emerged as a real threat for the top spot throughout qualifying, and was quickest overall during the first run in the final segment.
But he could not quite extract enough pace from his final effort, allowing both Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton to edge him out again as he ended up third quickest.
Although he was happy to be closer than expected to the dominant Mercedes team, he confessed to feeling an opportunity had slipped from his grasp.
"Yeah, it was interesting qualifying," said Verstappen. "Of course after missing the whole of yesterday for everyone, it was very busy today.
"Overall, I think a decent qualifying just in Q3, but when it really mattered I started understeering a bit too much. And, when it's so cold, when you're understeering, you're graining the front tyres so basically eating up the rubber, which cost me a bit of lap time.
"But overall I think we are getting closer towards Mercedes, which I think is very positive. So, in a way, a little bit disappointed. I was expecting a bit more but it is what it is. I think, overall, I can still be happy."
Reflecting on how the car had progressed through qualifying, Verstappen said that the understeer seemed to get worse as the session went on.
"I don't like understeer, but also this track when it's so cold with the tyres, it just didn't come towards us throughout qualifying," he said. "In the beginning it was fine, and then it just slipped away a bit.
"When you're understeering, you can't carry that mid-corner speed. You have to V-style it a bit more, and you lose a bit of time. But still, a good qualifying, to be that close to them."
Bottas, who set three purple sectors in his final Q3 run to snatch pole position, said his final run was 'spot on'.
"It's such a nice feeling when you get it done the last lap, with the last chance, so the last lap in qualifying three was spot on," said the Mercedes driver.
"It was what I needed and it was nice to get it together. Pretty tricky obviously with short practice. And, with these conditions, getting the tyres in the sweet spot with the out-lap, I think was one of the bigger things today."
Previous article
Hulkenberg: Eifel GP return "wilder, crazier" than Silverstone
Next article
Hamilton wanted to start Eifel GP on medium tyres
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Event | Eifel GP |
| Drivers | Max Verstappen |
| Author | Jonathan Noble |
Sebastian Vettel explains why Aston Martin
Aston Martin AMR21 Unveiling
The updates Williams hopes will lead to a point-scoring return
After producing a car which demonstrated progress but lacked the points to prove it last year, Williams starts its new era of team ownership with the FW43B, its bid to continue the climb up the Formula 1 grid in 2021
How Ferrari plans to recover from its 2020 F1 nightmare
The 2020 Formula 1 season was Ferrari's worst for 40 years as it slumped to sixth in the standings. A repeat performance will not be acceptable for the proud Italian team, which has adopted a notably pragmatic approach to forging its path back to the top
Why Aston Martin’s arrival is more than just new green livery
In the most eagerly anticipated Formula 1 team launch of the season, the rebranded Aston Martin squad’s changes go much further than the striking paint job. But rather than a restart, the team hopes to build on top of solid foundations.
The car Aston Martin begins its new F1 journey with
The team formerly known as Racing Point gambled successfully on a Mercedes look-alike in 2020 as it mounted a strong challenge for third in the constructors' race and won the Sakhir GP. Now clothed in British racing green, Aston Martin's first Formula 1 challenger since 1960 provides the clearest indicator yet of what to expect from the new-for-2021 regulations
The tricky driver conundrums facing Mercedes in F1 2021
Ahead of the new Formula 1 season, reigning world champions Mercedes will take on challenges both old and new. This also can be said for its driver conundrum which could become key to sustaining its ongoing success...
How Alpine's cure to 2021 F1 rules starts at the front
A new name, new faces and new colours pulls the rebranded Alpine Formula 1 team into a new era while carrying over core elements of its 2020 car. But under the surface there's more than meets the eye with the A521 which hints at how the team will tackle 2021...
Can Mercedes' W12 retain the team's crown?
Replacing Formula 1's fastest car was never going to be an easy feat for Mercedes. Amid the technical rule tweaks to peg back the W12 and its 2021 rivals, the new Mercedes challenger will remain the target to beat
The pointed note that starts Ferrari's Leclerc vs Sainz era
Ferrari is starting its post-Sebastian Vettel age by welcoming Carlos Sainz in alongside Charles Leclerc. But while Sainz has a tough challenge to match his new teammate, Ferrari is also sending a message that previous intra-team spats must end
