Max Verstappen finished the qualifying session for the Spanish Grand Prix of Formula 1 in third position, and considered that Red Bull Racing delivered a strong performance. The Dutch driver highlighted the setup evolution throughout the session and was pleased to secure a place among the top three.
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According to Verstappen, the car gained competitiveness with each attempt, allowing the team to stay close to the fight for pole from Q1 to Q3: “It was a very strong qualifying session from our side, and a result among the top three is something we can be quite satisfied with,” he said.
The four-time world champion explained that the adjustments made to the setup helped put the car in a more suitable operating window. The difference to pole ended up being small, but Verstappen identified the last sector as the main point where he lost ground. Now, he will have the second row on the starting grid to try to turn the pace in qualifying into a fight for victory.
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Tire durability appears as one of the central factors for the race. Verstappen highlighted that the free practice sessions had already shown the importance of preserving the compounds and maintaining control over wear during the race, especially if Red Bull wants to stay in contention with direct competitors.
He also foresees difficulties in gaining positions on track: “Overtaking opportunities are hard to find here and passing won’t be easy, so getting the strategy right will be important. If we do that, I think we have a good car for the race,” Verstappen concluded.
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