Max Verstappen set the fourth fastest time in qualifying for the British Grand Prix. The Red Bull Racing driver said he damaged the underbody of his car when he went off at Turn 9, which affected his speed.
For his teammate Sergio Perez, qualifying was even worse. The Mexican driver went off at Turn 9 in the first session, got stuck in the gravel and ended up out of contention.
Max Verstappen (4th): “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time at Turn 9. I saw the first drops of rain on my helmet visor at Turn 7 – I was basically on a section of track where it was raining. I knew the guys in front would have time to finish the lap, so I had to keep going despite the rain.
I was trying to go as fast as I could, but it was very wet entering Copse. I was off the optimal line, went into the wet and slid on the gravel. I missed the wall, but unfortunately I damaged the underside of the car. After that, it was just about getting into the next part.
The team did a great job trying to optimise the loss of downforce, although the floor was in very poor condition. I am happy to have made it to the final as the car was not that fast any more. So I am happy with fourth place on the grid.
Of course I don’t like it when that happens, but sometimes things are just out of your control. Of course I would have liked to start from pole and I think we could have hoped for first place, but even starting from fourth place, a lot is possible.
I will probably have to push more in the race, but I think it will be fun. We have good race pace this weekend. We made some adjustments to the set-up before qualifying to make the car better, but unfortunately I couldn’t show it because of the damage. Tomorrow we will put a new floor on and we will be able to have a good race.”
Sergio Perez (19th): “I had trouble getting the tyres warm and Turn 9 was very wet. I changed gear and the rear wheels locked up and I went off the track. I tried to brake but there was a lot of water in the run-off area and the car went into the gravel and got stuck, unfortunately.
It’s tough for me because I let the team down. It’s especially tough because we had a strong weekend before qualifying, but I wasn’t able to show the speed that we have.
The battle is very close, so we have an interesting race ahead. Hopefully I can quickly break through to the top, and the situation on the track, for example the safety car, will bring me back into the fight. In any case, tomorrow it is important to minimize losses and earn some points.”
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Max Verstappen qualified fourth fastest for the British Grand Prix. The Red Bull Racing driver said he damaged his car’s underbody when he went off track at Turn 9, impacting his speed.
His teammate Sergio Perez had an even worse qualifying session. The Mexican driver went off track at Turn 9 in the first session, got stuck in the gravel and was eliminated from contention.
Max Verstappen (4th): “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time at Turn 9. I saw the first drops of rain on my helmet visor at Turn 7 – I was basically on a section of track where it was raining. I knew the drivers in front would have time to finish the lap, so I had to keep going despite the rain.
I was trying to go as fast as I could, but it was very wet entering Copse. I was off the optimal line, went into the wet and slid on the gravel. I missed the wall, but unfortunately I damaged the underside of the car. After that, it was just about getting into the next part.
The team did a great job trying to optimize the loss of downforce, although the floor was in very poor condition. I am happy to have made it to the final as the car was not that fast anymore. So I am happy with fourth place on the grid.
Of course I don’t like it when that happens, but sometimes things are just out of your control. Of course I would have liked to start from pole and I think we could have hoped for first place, but even starting from fourth place, a lot is possible.
I will probably have to push more in the race, but I think it will be fun. We have good race pace this weekend. We made some adjustments to the set-up before qualifying to make the car better, but unfortunately I couldn’t show it because of the damage. Tomorrow we will put a new floor on and we will be able to have a good race.”
Sergio Perez (19th): “I had trouble getting the tires warm and Turn 9 was very wet. I changed gear and the rear wheels locked up and I went off the track. I tried to brake but there was a lot of water in the runoff area and the car went into the gravel and got stuck, unfortunately.
It’s tough for me because I let the team down. It’s especially tough because we had a strong weekend before qualifying, but I wasn’t able to show the speed that we have.
The battle is very close, so we have an interesting race ahead. Hopefully I can quickly break through to the top, and the situation on the track, for example the safety car, will bring me back into the fight. In any case, tomorrow it is important to minimize losses and earn some points.”
Max Verstappen’s Damaged Underbody Hobbles Red Bull in British GP Qualifying
The British Grand Prix qualifying session saw mixed fortunes for Red Bull Racing. Max Verstappen, despite a damaged underbody, managed to secure fourth place on the grid. However, his teammate Sergio Perez endured a disappointing session, ending up 19th after a spin at Turn 9.
Verstappen’s Wet Weather Woes
Verstappen’s qualifying session was hampered by an off-track incident in the second session. He encountered sudden rain at Turn 7 and, realizing he couldn’t afford to pit, pushed on despite the perilous conditions. Entering Copse Corner, the car slid on the wet track surface and hit the gravel, causing damage to the underbody.
“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time at Turn 9,” Verstappen explained. “I saw the first drops of rain on my helmet visor at Turn 7 – I was basically on a section of track where it was raining. I knew the guys in front would have time to finish the lap, so I had to keep going despite the rain.”
Despite the damage, Verstappen managed to salvage a fourth-place finish, highlighting the team’s effort to adapt to the loss of downforce. “The team did a great job trying to optimise the loss of downforce, although the floor was in very poor condition,” he acknowledged.
However, he remained optimistic about his race prospects saying, “We have good race pace this weekend. We made some adjustments to the set-up before qualifying to make the car better, but unfortunately, I couldn’t show it because of the damage. Tomorrow we will put a new floor on and we will be able to have a good race.”
Perez’s Qualifying Disappointment
Perez’s qualifying session was much more challenging. A spin at Turn 9 during the first session resulted in a deep slide into the gravel trap, ultimately ending his qualifying run.
“I had trouble getting the tyres warm and Turn 9 was very wet,” he explained. “I changed gear and the rear wheels locked up and I went off the track. I tried to brake but there was a lot of water in the run-off area and the car went into the gravel and got stuck, unfortunately.”
Perez expressed his frustration and disappointment, stating, “It’s tough for me because I let the team down. It’s especially tough because we had a strong weekend before qualifying, but I wasn’t able to show the speed that we have.”
Red Bull’s Race Strategy
While Verstappen’s qualifying performance was ultimately hampered by the damaged underbody, the team’s strong race pace suggests a potential for a strong finish. With a fresh floor for the race, Verstappen will be looking to maximize his chances of a podium finish.
Perez faces a challenging task of recovering from his poor qualifying position. He hopes to capitalize on any opportunities that arise during the race, including potential safety car periods, to claw his way back into contention.
The British Grand Prix promises an interesting race with Verstappen aiming for a strong finish to maintain his championship lead and Perez looking to make amends for his disappointing qualifying.
Keywords:
* British Grand Prix
* Max Verstappen
* Sergio Perez
* Red Bull Racing
* Qualifying
* Turn 9
* Underbody Damage
* Rain
* Race Pace
* Strategy
* Championship
This article was written for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a source of professional advice and should not be used as such. For any specific questions or concerns, it is always advisable to seek professional counsel.