Max Verstappen always says it like it is. And so his reaction after his eighth time in qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix was in line with what he had already said in Shanghai over the past two days. “Every lap is a matter of survival,” said Verstappen.
Just like during the first sessions – FP1, sprint qualifying, and sprint race – Max Verstappen was unable to compete at the front for a single moment during qualifying at the Shanghai International Circuit on Saturday. After the sprint race earlier in the day (P9, after a dramatic start), there was still some frantic tinkering with the car in the Red Bull garage. “We changed a lot on the car, but it didn’t make any difference. We are very far away from it. The car is completely undrivable. Every lap is a matter of survival,” he noted.
‘We are losing on all fronts’
Verstappen: “The balance is really nowhere to be found. Oversteer, understeer. We are losing on all fronts. I can’t even push, the car doesn’t allow it. I don’t feel in control. From lap 1 this season with the new rules, I haven’t had any fun with the car.”
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In the sprint race on Saturday morning, Verstappen fell far back at the start because he didn’t get away well. The engine power left much to be desired. “I hope we can fix something with the start, otherwise I’ll be driving in P20 again after the start tomorrow,” he said somewhat sarcastically after qualifying.
Max Verstappen doesn’t have high expectations for the race anyway, he admitted. “I’m eighth now, that’s realistically where we belong now. So it’s going to be a fun race. Perhaps there will be tracks that suit the car a bit better, but if we don’t improve drastically, we will remain the fourth team on the grid regardless.”
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Read everything about the Chinese GP here
