Max Verstappen, the Red Bull driver, remained optimistic despite a disappointing starting position of P9 for the Miami Grand Prix. Confident in his ability to make up ground during the race, Verstappen expressed his belief that his starting position would not be detrimental to his chances of reaching the podium.
After showcasing impressive pace during Friday’s practice sessions, Verstappen’s frustration was palpable as he crossed the finish line in qualifying. A combination of factors, including a mistake on his own part and Charles Leclerc’s crash, prevented Verstappen from completing a flying lap in Q3.
As the first car to leave the pit lane for the final session, Verstappen’s lap was disrupted by strong gusts of wind, causing him to make errors and ultimately forcing him to abort the lap and return to the pits. With hopes of redeeming himself on the final flying lap, Verstappen’s opportunity was cut short when Leclerc’s incident brought out the red flag, prematurely ending the session and condemning Verstappen to a lower starting position than expected.
Despite the setback, Verstappen displayed unwavering confidence in his ability to replicate his podium finish from the previous race in Saudi Arabia, where he started P15. Expressing his disappointment with his own mistake, he acknowledged the challenge he created for himself but believed in his capacity to overcome it.
In an interview with Sky Sports F1, Verstappen admitted the upcoming race would be tough but accepted the consequences of his actions. Interrupted by the interviewer’s inquiry about his car’s performance, Verstappen confidently predicted a “minimum P2” position for Sunday’s race, indicating his determination to push forward and make significant progress.
While Verstappen encountered misfortune, his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez benefited from the red flag, securing his third career pole position and his first outside of Saudi Arabia. Reflecting on his own performance, Perez acknowledged that the weekend had been challenging until qualifying. Resetting his approach and making minor adjustments, Perez found the necessary pace to outperform Verstappen and the Ferraris.
As the anticipation builds for the Miami Grand Prix, Verstappen remains undeterred by his starting position. With his sights set on the podium, he is determined to demonstrate his exceptional skills and capitalize on any opportunities that arise during the race. Red Bull’s strong overall performance and Perez’s pole position provide further encouragement for Verstappen’s pursuit of a successful podium charge in Miami.
