Max Verstappen cited Purple Bull’s main weak point in low-speed corners to clarify why he couldn’t compete for pole place in F1 dash qualifying on the Miami Grand Prix.
Regardless of excelling within the high-speed part initially of the lap, the reigning world champion was unable to take care of this pace, finally settling for fourth on the grid.
Verstappen had taken provisional pole in SQ3 however was eclipsed by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and the 2 McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri, forward of Lando Norris.
Dash qualifying was a well-known story for Verstappen and Purple Bull, who proceed to lack total tempo relative to McLaren.
Reflecting on dash qualifying in Miami, Verstappen stated: “I believe what we additionally did in Q3 was good. The tyres had been holding on fairly effectively. Sadly, already from FP1, I used to be scuffling with quite a lot of understeer within the automobile.
“Round right here with all these low-speed corners you lose fairly a little bit of lap time. You may see within the first sector we’re fairly aggressive as that’s the place the few excessive pace corners are however as quickly as you get to the low pace you lack fairly a little bit of grip. P4 is alright.
“It’s not the place I need to be however you additionally should be real looking with the restrictions now we have in the intervening time. It was nonetheless fairly shut.”
Max Verstappen predicts “it will likely be robust with the warmth”
Regardless of Purple Bull’s inconsistencies this season, Verstappen stays firmly within the 2025 F1 title race.
After 5 rounds, Verstappen is simply 12 factors behind Piastri on the prime of the F1 drivers’ championship.
Verstappen stays the one non-Purple Bull winner up to now this 12 months, popping out on prime at Suzuka after a legendary pole place lap.
Purple Bull launched a big flooring improve for this weekend, and additional developments are anticipated for the European season, which begins in two weeks at Imola.
Relating to Purple Bull’s probabilities within the dash – and for the rest of the weekend – Verstappen expects it will likely be “robust” as a result of hotter situations.
“Actually, it’s very troublesome to say in a dash weekend as a result of there’s no actual correct knowledge or lengthy runs since you don’t know what others are doing with gas hundreds and stuff,” Verstappen added.
“Simply going off with my very own emotions and likewise how I felt balance-wise with the automobile, it will likely be robust with the warmth. Like I stated, we all know our limitations so we simply must try to make the very best of it.”
