Max Verstappen feels he was unable to match Mercedes’ tempo if it had proven its full potential and was happy with second on the grid on the Canadian Grand Prix regardless of setting an similar lap time to George Russell.
Russell’s lap of 1m12.000s was set on his first run in Q3 and Verstappen equalled it on his ultimate try, with the primary to put up a time being categorized forward. Russell then failed to enhance on his final lap having been within the 1m11s earlier within the session, so Verstappen was happy to safe a spot on the entrance row.
“On the whole, I believe it wasn’t a foul qualifying,” Verstappen mentioned. “I believe what was talked about earlier than, in all probability Q3 was the weakest of the periods for Mercedes.
“Being on the very same lap time, yeah, it’s nice, however in hindsight, I believe if you take a look at their pure tempo, I’ll take second, as a result of after Q2 I noticed their lap occasions. I used to be like, ‘There isn’t any method that I can do one thing like that.’
“Then there was slightly little bit of rain in between, like a couple of spits right here and there. I believe, total, simply the weekend was once more a bit messy from our facet, simply too many little points. From there onward, we tried to search out the absolute best stability with the automobile. I believe we did get a good stability in qualifying. I used to be fairly pleased with it, however we’d like to have the ability to simply have cleaner weekends with out points. I believe that can assist a bit as properly.”
Verstappen says the end result in comparison with Monaco is extra a mirrored image of the variations within the two tracks relatively than a transparent step ahead from Pink Bull with regards to its curb-riding points.
“We’re nonetheless scuffling with the identical issues, however the observe structure helps in comparison with Monaco, the place Monaco has much more low-speed, so it’s actually necessary to have good experience, mechanical grip,” he mentioned. “Right here there’s extra aero concerned. After all, there are a couple of locations nonetheless the place it’s essential to experience curbs or you might have bumpy locations, however we all know these limitations, so we have to simply work on that. That’s why I believe, usually, to be P2 right here is alright.”
Whereas the championship chief will begin on the entrance row, teammate Sergio Perez strains up in P16 for the second consecutive race, and says he couldn’t get his rear tires working within the comparatively cool circumstances.
“The primary factor actually was to modify on the rear axle for me,” Perez instructed Sky Sports activities. “It was fairly difficult and I ended up paying the worth with it as a result of principally I simply had no grip, I used to be sliding an excessive amount of round it, and principally our qualifying was a complete catastrophe.
“I believe it was extra a tire factor than the curb factor. I believe in these circumstances, how we weren’t in a position to change on the rear axle, I couldn’t lean on it in any respect and I simply didn’t have any confidence on the time to push it, so it was a complete catastrophe sadly.”
