Red Bull ‘shouldn’t be on front row’ in Verstappen ‘too slow’ Chinese GP ve….read more
Max Verstappen couldn’t hide his satisfaction after narrowly missing out on claiming the fastest time during Sprint Qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. Despite the Red Bull team struggling through the earlier parts of the weekend, Verstappen managed to secure a front-row start, finishing just behind Lewis Hamilton. The result marks the first time Verstappen and Hamilton will share the front row since the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix, reigniting the on-track rivalry between the two multi-time World Champions.
Verstappen posted a lap time of 1:30.867, which would have set a new lap record at the Shanghai International Circuit had he not been narrowly beaten by Hamilton, who clocked a time just 0.018 seconds faster while driving for Ferrari. This tight margin showcased how competitive both drivers were despite challenging conditions and an unpredictable qualifying session.
While Verstappen’s strong final effort in Sprint Qualifying delivered a surprise result, Red Bull’s overall performance throughout the day suggested the team hadn’t been in peak form. In fact, prior to SQ3, Red Bull’s prospects seemed shaky. Verstappen himself had been largely absent from the sharp end of the timesheets in SQ1 and SQ2, with both McLaren and Mercedes appearing more dominant in the earlier segments of the session. Additionally, Liam Lawson, Verstappen’s Red Bull stablemate standing in for the unwell Sergio Perez, struggled and was eliminated in SQ1 after failing to crack the top 15.
The build-up to qualifying had also been less than ideal for Red Bull, as both Verstappen and Lawson finished outside the top 10 during practice, further fueling doubts about the RB21’s competitiveness at the Shanghai circuit. However, Verstappen managed to extract significantly more pace from the car when it mattered most, delivering a single flying lap in SQ3 that elevated him to second place.
McLaren, tipped by many as one of the frontrunners due to their strong pace earlier in the weekend, faltered when it came to the decisive moments. Lando Norris made costly mistakes on both of his hot laps, leaving him down in sixth position, while his teammate Oscar Piastri fared better, grabbing third place and missing out on pole by less than a tenth of a second.
Despite these early setbacks and Red Bull’s apparent lack of pace leading up to the final runs, Verstappen’s ability to deliver under pressure once again proved vital. The Dutch driver seemed more than satisfied with both his own performance and the unexpected competitiveness of the RB21 in the final moments of qualifying.
Speaking after the session, Verstappen shared his positive assessment of the car’s behavior and the result he secured. “I’m very happy,” Verstappen said, acknowledging that while Red Bull hadn’t looked like front-row contenders earlier in the day, they managed to pull it together when it counted.
The outcome means that Verstappen will start alongside Hamilton for Saturday’s Sprint Race, setting the stage for what could be another thrilling battle between the two title-winning drivers. It also highlights how unpredictable the Shanghai circuit has been this weekend, with fluctuating track conditions and varying team performances shaking up the usual order.
