Max Verstappen says the bumps on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix are hurting Pink Bull after he may solely qualify fourth for the Dash.
Interlagos has been resurfaced since Components 1 final raced in Brazil and the monitor floor supplied improved grip, nevertheless it turned evident from the opening laps of FP1 that it has additionally led to an especially bumpy journey for the drivers. With Pink Bull’s automotive preferring smoother surfaces, Verstappen says it was clear from the beginning of Dash qualifying that he didn’t have the tempo to problem McLaren, and he’s anticipating related over a future.
“As quickly as we went into qualifying it seemed like we have been undoubtedly off,” Verstappen mentioned. “The automotive was a bit tough on the bumps. They did the resurfacing however I feel they really made it worse to drive! It’s extraordinarily bumpy in every single place, in order that’s not good for our automotive. All of the bumpy areas, the automotive is leaping round quite a bit, and it’s costing me fairly a little bit of lap time sadly.
“For tomorrow, I don’t know. Usually if you’re already fairly a bit off over one lap, I don’t suppose we’re significantly the strongest within the race, so we’ll need to see how that goes tomorrow within the Dash.
“After all, I additionally know there may be perhaps some climate round that may come — perhaps not for the Dash, however we’ll take a look. After which for the penalty [on Sunday], I’ve a bit extra work to do.”
Title rival Lando Norris begins on the entrance row after being edged out by Oscar Piastri on the ultimate lap, and says he’s not paying any consideration to how Verstappen is performing.
“I don’t care — I hate these questions a lot,” Norris mentioned. “I’m simply going to race, I don’t care about the place he qualifies. For me I’m simply going to focus alone job. That’s it. It’s the identical query each time, nevertheless it doesn’t matter, if he’s first or he’s final I’ll do the perfect I can.”
Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez additionally struggled as he dropped out within the second a part of Dash qualifying, and says he wasn’t capable of get the automotive working nicely sufficient as monitor temperatures dropped in comparison with follow.
“We had Q1 however then into Q2 we have been struggling a bit bit with the stability,” Perez mentioned. “We had a bit little bit of understeer with the monitor coming down and we tried to do it with the brake stability and instruments that I had accessible, and I ended up a bit bit too rear restricted. After which it was a bit complicated on this system — we thought we would have an opportunity for a second lap and sadly we didn’t.
“It was , sturdy FP1, however I feel at present we did battle fairly a bit. Wanting ahead to tomorrow’s qualifying actually. We received caught out with the situations, sadly, and that’s actually what was the tough bit.”
