F1 | Verstappen: “We are where we deserve, I didn't 'turn on' the tyres”

After seeing him sign four pole positions in as many Grands Prix, it is almost strange to think that Max Verstappen will not be the one to sprint ahead of everyone in the first Sprint of Formula 1 2024, in Shanghai. Indeed, in a Sprint Qualifying made very treacherous by the rain that arrived during Q3, the three-time world champion was unable to place his Red Bull even on the front row.

The Circus had not made a stop on the Chinese track since 2019. Furthermore, with the Sprint format the drivers and teams only had one free practice session available. As if that wasn't enough, the treatments carried out on the asphalt made it particularly slippery when the rain started to fall.

And if anyone was able to experience it first-hand, it was the Dutchman himself, because in his first two attempts he ended up wide off the track, having his times canceled due to violation of the track limits. On the final lap, therefore, he had to remain rather “buttoned up”, also because he had not yet managed to bring the tires of his RB20 into the right window.

“It was incredibly slippery, I struggled a lot to get the tires up to temperature, so it was very difficult to keep the car on the track. They never really 'turned on' for me, so it was like driving on ice,” he explained Verstappen during the ritual interviews.

“That's why I think we deserve to be where we are after qualifying. Because in the wet we didn't go well, even if in the dry I think we're in good shape and so I'm happy,” he added.

Having said that, the World Championship leader has no intention of giving up on tomorrow's Sprint, also because on the other hand his car performed very well in the dry. Even with the awareness that starting from the dirtiest side of the grid will not be easy at all.

“Yes, of course,” he said when asked if he still thinks he can come back tomorrow morning. “But it's not ideal to start on the inside, because the grip is much lower with this treatment done on the asphalt, so we have to try to make the best possible start. Then there will be a rather long stint with only one set of tires in the Sprint and this makes the race very interesting.”