Max Verstappen produced another display of greatness in qualifying for the British Grand Prix on Saturday. He didn’t look like a contender for pole, but he denied championship leader Oscar Piastri at the last.
Verstappen was livid on the radio during practice as he visibly wrestled with his RB21. But as they have done on numerous occasions this season, his Red Bull team made the set-up changes required to transform his weekend.
The Dutchman sent a 1:24.892 to claim his fourth pole position of the year. No driver on the grid has more this year despite the dominance of the two McLarens.
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Oscar Piastri will join Verstappen on the front row, with Lando Norris and George Russell forming an all-British second row. Lewis Hamilton was hunting for a dream pole but ended up fifth.
Max Verstappen notes Ferrari’s fearsome pace in British Grand Prix corners
Speaking to Sky Sports after qualifying, Verstappen commented on Red Bull’s crucial set-up changes. They peeled downforce off the car, which made it rapid on the straights.
Much like at the Japanese GP in April, he relied on his own talents through the high-speed corners after making the sacrifice. Ferrari took the opposite approach.
Verstappen noted that they were ‘incredibly quick’ through the corners, which may be a sign of the progress they’ve made with their recent updates. Sunday’s race will be the true test, but McLaren may have struck the best compromise.
“What is quite interesting is that Ferrari are incredibly quick in the corners, bit slower on the straight,” Verstappen explained. “McLaren are a bit in the middle of it all. We are incredibly quick on the straight, but slower in the corners!”
He may be Max Verstappen’s future teammate, but he was cheering for Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton made a mistake in the final sector, carrying too much speed into Vale and losing momentum through the corner. There is hope for Ferrari, though, after a convincing race run on Friday.
Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar was cheering Hamilton on from the media pen after going out in Q2, and looked disappointed when he missed out on pole. Hadjar will hope to partner Verstappen at Red Bull next year, but Hamilton is his idol.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc was explosively self-critical over the radio after qualifying sixth. Neither Ferrari driver felt like they fulfilled their potential.
Carlos Sainz’s victory at the 2024 Mexico City GP last autumn remains Ferrari’s most recent win.
