Max Verstappen expressed immense satisfaction immediately after his superior qualification for the United States Grand Prix on Saturday evening, having secured pole position. “The car was very strong,” said Verstappen, who spoke of challenging conditions, particularly due to the strong and sometimes changing wind.
The four-time world champion was unable to complete a second run in Q3 of the qualification due to a careless miscalculation by the team. Verstappen crossed the finish line after time had expired. Fortunately for him, the miscalculation had no consequences. “It was a bit chaotic with everyone’s outlaps, but luckily we didn’t need that second run. This was a very strong result,” he said on the grid in an initial response to interviewer David Coulthard.
Verstappen stated that the conditions in Austin were tricky. “It was very hot and we had to deal with a strong wind and a tailwind in the first sector, which caused the car to lose downforce. The car moved more as a result, even compared to Friday, so you had to build in a margin. But in the end, it was a very strong qualification.”
