Verstappen: “I’m going to have a lot of fun”
For a few millimeters off track, Max Verstappen did not get the pole position in Austin. But he still hopes to sign his fiftieth victory on Sunday.
It’s a story of a few millimeters: Max Verstappen played with the limits of turn 19 (the penultimate one) and ended up on the wrong side. While he had taken the lead by only five thousandths of a second over the time set by Charles Leclerc, the new triple world champion found himself relegated to sixth position. The driver admitted that he made a mistake on the first turn, which forced him to take no safety margin for the rest of the lap. It ended up not paying off.
This outcome will undoubtedly exacerbate his dissatisfaction expressed following his first attempt in Q3 when he felt he was troubled in the last turn by Sergio Perez, who was setting off for his own fast lap. The televised images however were not glaring but it can be said that at this level of margins, the slightest visual disturbance causes the loss of valuable hundredths of a second.
But at the time of official statements, it was more the prospect of a good comeback in the race on Sunday that prevailed: « It’s obviously annoying but it will make Sunday’s race much more enjoyable. We are going to focus on tomorrow’s Sprint race. I want to win it as well as Sunday’s. It’s a long weekend and a lot can happen. What is certain is that I’m going to have a lot of fun. »
The Batavian driver knows, in fact, that the DRS of his Red Bull is particularly effective, which will prove very useful in the two long straights of Austin. Even starting sixth, he can calmly consider winning his fiftieth career victory as early as this weekend.
From our special correspondent in Austin
