Verstappen suggests qualifying mistake cost him front row start spot
Max Verstappen has suggested he would have qualified on the front row of the grid for the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix but for a mistake on his final lap
The Red Bull driver was fourth fastest in qualifying for the season opener, 0.715 seconds off Lewis Hamilton's pole position pace.
But running wide in the fast Turn 13 right-hander cost more than enough time to have ended up ahead of second placed Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari, which was 0.049s quicker.
Verstappen had set personal bests in the first two sectors of Albert Park on his final Q3 lap, and had he repeated what he did in the final sector on his first run, he would have been second and 0.611s off pole - while with a clean lap he could have been significantly quicker.
"I went wide in Turn 13, so I lost two-tenths compared to my quickest lap," said Verstappen.
"Lewis seems to be quite far ahead, but if we would have put a clean lap together, it's let's say half-a-second, and then with the power mode they have, which is three or four tenths, then it's not too bad.
"I just lost a little bit on entry, so I missed the apex and then went wide onto the Astroturf.
"You slide the rears and then the rear tyres are too hot, so that's not ideal."
Like team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, Verstappen struggled a little for front-end grip during the session.
Because of this, and the fact Albert Park is not a strong circuit for Red Bull, Verstappen said he was not too concerned about the pace relative to Mercedes.
"In general the car was behaving really well," said Verstappen.
"Of course, it can always be a little bit better, so we just have to look for the future but every track is different.
"We could have had a bit more front grip.
"This is not our best track of the calendar, our car is definitely working really well so I'm not too worried."
Previous article
Bottas set for Melbourne gearbox change penalty after qualifying crash
Next article
Formula 1: Alonso predicts 'big points' for McLaren in Australia
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Jos Verstappen , Max Verstappen |
| Author | Edd Straw |
Albert Park Circuit Modifications Project
Mercedes-AMG F1 Team: Bahrain GP Race Debrief
The 'new' F1 drivers who need to improve at Imola
After a pandemic-hit winter of seat-swapping, F1 kicked off its season with several new faces in town, other drivers adapting to new environments, and one making a much-anticipated comeback. BEN ANDERSON looks at who made the most of their opportunity and who needs to try harder…
The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture
Aston Martin’s only previous foray into Formula 1 in the late 1950s was a short-lived and unsuccessful affair. But it could have been so different, says NIGEL ROEBUCK
Verstappen exclusive: Why lack of car-racing titles won't hurt Red Bull's ace
Max Verstappen’s star quality in Formula 1 is clear. Now equipped with a Red Bull car that is, right now, the world title favourite and the experience to support his talent, could 2021 be the Dutchman’s year to topple the dominant force of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?
Are we at peak F1 right now?
For many, many years Formula 1 has strived to do and to be better on all fronts. With close competition, a growing fanbase, a stable political landscape and rules in place to encourage sustainability, 2021 is on course to provide an unexpected peak
How crucial marginal calls will decide the Red Bull vs Mercedes battle in F1 2021
The longer Red Bull can maintain a performance edge over Mercedes, the better the odds will be in the team’s favour against the defending world champions. But as the Bahrain Grand Prix showed, many more factors will be critical in the outcome of the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship
How Williams’ new structure adheres to a growing F1 trend
Williams held out against the tide for many years but, as MARK GALLAGHER explains, the age of the owner-manager is long gone
When a journeyman driver's F1 career lasted just 800m
Nikita Mazepin’s Formula 1 debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix lasted mere corners before he wiped himself out in a shunt, but his financial backing affords him a full season. Back in 1993 though, Marco Apicella was an F1 driver for just 800m before a first corner fracas ended his career. Here’s the story of his very short time at motorsport’s pinnacle
The nightmare timing that now hinders Mercedes
Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton took victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix despite, for a change, not having the quickest car. But any hopes of developing its W12 to surpass Red Bull's RB16B in terms of outright speed could not have come at a worse time.
