Max Verstappen, the Dutch driver for Red Bull Racing, was awarded the Pirelli Pole Position in the qualifying parc ferme at the Chinese Grand Prix. Verstappen expressed his confidence in extracting speed from his Formula 1 car during a single lap in 2024 after securing pole position in China.
At the Shanghai International Circuit, Verstappen dominated the qualifying session, showcasing his exceptional skill on low fuel. This marked his fifth consecutive pole position this season, a feat that hasn’t been achieved since Mika Hakkinen in 1999.
Verstappen’s performance in all three segments of qualifying was outstanding, and even his initial benchmark in Q3 would have been enough to outpace his competitors. Despite facing challenges with the wind affecting the car’s balance, Verstappen managed to improve his lap time by three-tenths in his final run.
Reflecting on his qualifying session, Verstappen admitted that Q3 was a bit confusing as his first run was slower than in Q2. He attributed this to the unpredictable wind conditions at the circuit. However, in his final run, everything fell into place, and he was able to push harder, resulting in a more normal grip and a significant improvement in his lap time.
Verstappen praised the overall performance of his car throughout the qualifying session, highlighting its well-balanced nature, which allowed him to push to the limits. He believes that this balance was crucial in securing pole position.
Regarding the track’s evolution between Q2 and Q3, Verstappen felt that there was minimal improvement. He noted that there may have been a slight evolution in Q1, but the degradation from the previous race and the challenge of adjusting to new tires on low fuel made it difficult to extract more speed.
In conclusion, Verstappen’s exceptional performance in qualifying has boosted his confidence in his ability to extract maximum pace from his Red Bull Formula 1 car. He is determined to convert his pole position into a victory in the upcoming race.
Verstappen’s most recent top-ranking lap ensured that Red Bull achieved its 100th first place in F1, having secured its initial one through Sebastian Vettel 15 years ago.
“Before I hopped in the car, Christian [Horner] informed me that if I obtained pole today, it could be the team’s 100th,” Verstappen disclosed.
“So I thought, ‘well, that’s pleasant’. I’ll give it a solid try. But yes, it’s an extraordinary accomplishment for the entire team.
“Of course, Seb made a significant contribution in the past, but yeah, it’s fantastic.
“Also, to have both cars in the top two in qualifying, it demonstrated that the car is once again performing exceptionally well. From my perspective, it’s been a very promising start to the year.
“I feel very confident in qualifying, even in comparison to last year.
“It’s just unfortunate that we had to retire in Melbourne. Otherwise, I believe we could have already had a substantial lead. But overall, it’s still a great start.”
Verstappen rebounded from a cautious start to surge from fourth to a dominant victory in the earlier Sprint, pulling 13 seconds ahead in 10 laps once he took the lead.
When asked how this will shape his preparations, Verstappen responded: “It definitely provides a better understanding of tire degradation and what to focus on for tomorrow.
“Of course, the wind direction will change again tomorrow, so the car’s balance in certain corners will be slightly different.
“If the car is even half as good as it was in the Sprint, I think we’ll be fine.”