Max Verstappen snatched a starting P2 for the upcoming F1 Las Vegas GP in spite of the rather challenging weather conditions. After a tough Qualifying session in Brazil, the Dutch driver l almost replicated his Q1 knock out experience, only getting out of the danger zone in the final moments of the session.
Nevertheless, he went on to take the provisional top spot in Q2, whereas eventual pole sitter Norris dominated the latest segment. Ultimately, Verstappen is pleased with his qualifying result for the F1 Las Vegas GP, especially because he didn’t have a great feeeling with teche rather damp track.
Challenging track conditions
The four times World Champion described in detail the awful drivability around the American streets.
“Yeah, it was super slippery. You know, it felt like ice. To be honest, not a lot of fun to do. I mean, I love driving in the wet, but this for me is a little bit too much, I would say. You just have to be super careful. And honestly, I was surprised there were not too many incidents. So everyone was behaving, I think, quite well—or scared.”
In spite of the strong pace demonstrated throughout the weekend, Verstappen doesn’t believe he had the potential for more compared to the actual pole lap signed by Norris.
“I think we were a little bit more competitive on the Extreme [Wets] than the Inter, just super hard to do a clean lap. You have people backing out, yellow flags, locking up yourself, 360—all of that. So yeah. We just went through qualifying without too many dramas, I would say. And to be on the front row is good. A bit unlucky of course with not having another lap, but I think if you look at the whole of Q3, we never really were in contention for pole anyway, so it’s fine like this.”
No track evolution…
The Red Bull driver was also taken by surprise by the lack, or at least strong reduction of potential compared to usual, of track evolution. While he had signed a promising 1:48.257 on his final flying lap, Norris manages to lower the pole time to a high 1.47. However, it wasn’t that great of an improvement, especially taking into account the lengths and the risks Norris took to snatch that spot.
“Well, yeah. But it doesn’t unfortunately work like that. Of course the track does dry up and normally, lap after lap, you should be able to go faster, but there was no time. I think if you look at the whole of Q3, we were never up there. We were never first, we were never quick enough, and to be second is fine.”
The reigning champion doesn’t know what to expect from tomorrow’s race either. Drier weather is forecasted. Consequently, the drivers will encounter track conditions vastly different to the ones experienced so far throughout the weekend, especially during FP3.
He doesn’t believe in his own race winning odds, but will for sure try and do his best to secure a great podium finish.
“It’s a bit difficult to say. We didn’t really do any proper long running. In FP1 I did a little bit, which was not entirely to my liking. So I hope with the changes we’ve made since then that it will be a little bit better. But I’m not expecting it to be amazing. I hope we have a chance to do well.”
…and no visibility either
Verstappen also brought up the lack of visibility he struggled from during the first Qualifying segment for the F1 Las Vegas GP. On that occasion, the spray from other drivers increased his stuggles, and after the first set of timed laps he was in P16.
At the end of the day he did ultimately move up to a safe P5, but the Dutchman remarked the importance the right gap has in such challenging and damp conditions.
“Yeah, the visibility was also very tough. With these cars as well, with the ground effect, there’s a lot of wake that gets kicked up from the floor. So when it rains, there’s a lot of water and spray, and that’s why you always want at least, like, eight seconds. I know it’s a lot but otherwise, you don’t really see what’s happening in front of you.”
