Brown acknowledges Max Verstappen as 'threat for pole' in Imola

16:08, 17 May

byNorberto Mujica

With qualifying about to take place in Imola, McLaren CEO Zak Brown has tipped Max Verstappen as a potential candidate for pole position at the Italian track ahead of papaya drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Whilst Oscar Piastri was quickest in both sessions on Friday, Lando Norris took P1 in FP3, albeit with a fine margin to P3 Verstappen.

Speaking to F1TV Brown saw in the Red Bull Racing driver a threat to McLaren's bid for pole in qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

"I think we've got two fast race cars. Max looks very good. I think it's going to be a typical level qualifying today, which is going to be five, six drivers that can get pole."

Piastri and Norris have both been fairly evenly matched with one draing blood where the other can't, sees Brown. "One's quicker the first half of the lap and the other's quicker the second half of the lap, so they're trying to learn from each other."

'Max Verstappen is our biggest threat for pole'

"I think if they can put together each other's laps, then I think there's another tenth or so to be found. So hopefully they'll do that."

Regarding the Dutchman, Brown knows he will be there at the end. "I think Max is going to be right there, he looks very quick. The Mercedes look quick. So I think Max is probably our biggest threat for pole."

So much so that he doesn't dare predict a slam dunk McLaren pole. "I'm gonna predict the top three are two orange and one Max Verstappen. In what order? It's all gonna come down to who gets that lap in I think."