Portimao a disappointment for Verstappen: 'It used to be great here!'

The circuit of Portimao was resurfced recently. However, not all drivers are happy with this, including Max Verstappen.

The Portimao circuit is seen by many drivers as a real racetrack, thanks to the big differences in height. There was a lot of enthusiasm to travel to Portugal, but since the first free practice session, the track has turned out to be very slippery because of the new asphalt. This has also had its effect on qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton setting the fastest time again on the medium tyres.

Meanwhile Max Verstappen drove the entire qualifying session on the soft tyres. "It was pretty straightforward for us. We were fully committed to the softs. But I think the whole weekend has been very difficult to get the tyres working and the asphalt is also very slippery. You can only take one line," the Dutchman explained in the FIA press conference after qualifying.

Formula 1 on ice

During the session, Verstappen managed to get the third place on the grid, but he knows there was more to it. "I set my fastest time in Q1 and after that I couldn't set it because I didn't have the same amount of grip. Of course you have less time in Q2 and Q3, so it was harder to get the tires in the right window".

That's why, according to the Red Bull Racing driver, it's no fun in Portugal. "It's not fun for me personally to drive here now. I was here in January and it was great to drive a Formula 1 car here. I mean, the view, everything is perfect here, but with the grip we have... You can't push, you just drive on ice here. It's a disappointment", concludes Verstappen.