Verstappen on crucial mistake: "Couldn't believe I threw it away like that".

6034b42626c85fd386745a8a0bc098a6a94bbd53

14:32, 19 Dec 2021

In qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Max Verstappen was on his way to a phenomenal pole lap, but a mistake in the final corner prevented him from doing so. Nowadays it doesn't matter to the World Champion, but at the time there was a high degree of disbelief.

"I couldn't believe myself that I threw it away like that. I completely missed the corner," acknowledged the Dutchman in conversation with Olav Mol at Ziggo Sport. Taking less risks was not an option according to Verstappen, because then he could have been third.

Verstappen explains mistake in qualifying Saudi Arabia

He now has an explanation as to how that moment could have happened. On the first lap he had more fuel on board because the plan was to do two laps, but instead Red Bull Racing brought him in for new tyres. "Then you have less fuel again. I was also the last one on the track, so then you have that slipstream effect from the wind," he explained.

"Because of that I arrived at that corner nine kilometers per hour faster, which is of course a huge difference. I didn't feel that at the time. So I braked five or six meters later than normal," added Verstappen.

Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	179
2	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	154
3	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	147
4	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	108
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	97
6	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	82
7	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	76
8	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	52
9	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	42
10	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	39
11	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	20
12	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
13	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	18
14	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	6
15	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
16	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	5
17	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	3
18	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	1
19	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
20	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
21	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
22	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0

Verstappen on crucial mistake: "Couldn't believe I threw it away like that".

Verstappen explains mistake in qualifying Saudi Arabia

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