Verstappen disappointed with 'poor' Q3 in Austin and reveals sudden problem
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Nicole MulderManaging Editor
Nicole Mulder is Managing Editor at GPblog and a specialist in Formula 1 and MotoGP. With years of experience and permanent FIA accreditation at Grands Prix worldwide, she delivers reliable coverage and insights based on direct access to drivers and the F1 paddock.
Max Verstappen is unhappy with how qualifying for the United States Grand Prix went. The Red Bull Racing driver secured second place on the grid behind Kimi Antonelli, but suddenly struggled with a lack of grip and poor balance in Q3, leaving him unable to challenge for pole. His final attempt, in particular, did not go as he had hoped.
Verstappen was 0.179 seconds short of pole position in Austin. The Dutchman felt comfortable in his RB22 in Q1 and Q2, but that changed during the decisive phase of qualifying. He struggled to keep the car under control on both sets of tyres.
Verstappen unhappy with Q3 in Austin
"Only Q3 wasn't good. Q1 and Q2 went well, but for whatever reason, I just didn't have a good balance on either set of tyres", Verstappen said after qualifying. The four-time world champion stressed that he made no mistakes on his first attempts, but that grip was lacking. He ran into problems particularly when he tried to get more speed out of the car on his final lap.
"I didn't make any mistakes, but I just had no grip and started sliding a lot. On the final lap, you could tell that, with the wind behind me, it just wasn't working in certain places. Then you try to push a bit harder, hit a bump the wrong way, and the car starts bouncing like a kangaroo. Then you slide wide and know that lap is over", the Red Bull driver explained.
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Verstappen had expected more from Q3 based on his earlier qualifying laps. Still, he can accept second place on the grid, which puts him alongside Antonelli on the front row on Sunday. "To be honest, I'm just not very happy with Q3. This wasn't what I wanted or expected, but if I still finish second, I'll take it", Verstappen concluded.
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