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Verstappen unhappy with P6: I was sliding everywhere

Verstappen unhappy with P6: "I was sliding everywhere"

24-11-2018 15:32
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Nicolás Quarles van Ufford

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen wasn't happy with the way his car felt during qualifying at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, as the Dutchman explained that the RB14 was sliding ever since Q2 because of overheating tyres.

Overheating is always an issue in Abu Dhabi, especially on the hypersoft tyres, the softest compound available. Verstappen tried to make it through Q2 on ultrasofts so he could start Sunday's race on those tyres, but he found himself at risk of being knocked out of the round. He was forced to bust out the hypersofts to survive, which he then did, but he never got a hold of his car in Q3. He finished in sixth, behind his teammate Daniel Ricciardo.

"I was already sliding a lot with the rear in Q2," the 21-year-old revealed to Ziggo Sport.

"I had that in Q3 as well in the first run. I told the team 'we have to let the tyres cool' but when I went out for my second run the tyres were five degrees hotter.

"I asked what was going on and they told me it was going to be fine, but when I started my lap I was sliding everywhere again.

"That's when I thought 'I'll stop with this'. It was a sh*tty lap anyway."

Verstappen can no longer break the record of being the youngest pole sitter ever now, as he'll be older than Sebastian Vettel in 2008 come the next Grand Prix in Australia in 2019. 

Red Bull's race pace has looked promising in free practice, but Verstappen still isn't too excited about his prospects in tomorrow's race.

"Being at the front is always better, of course, but we'll see.

"I think we'll have a chance, even though starting on hypersofts isn't ideal. It could've all been better."