For the first time since the Austrian Grand Prix, Verstappen is starting a race from pole position. The Dutch driver surprisingly secured the top spot during the sprint qualifying session in Austin. Consequently, he was quite pleased with his first day on the American circuit, although Verstappen remains cautious.
“It was a very good day,” a delighted Verstappen shares after achieving his impressive result during the sprint qualification, speaking to Formula1.com. “From the first lap, the car felt good enough. I think we’re also quite fast in the high-speed corners.”
Verstappen is particularly thrilled with his pole position, as the qualification for the shortened race is always a challenging session. “The sprint qualification is always tough, as you first have to use the medium tires twice and then the softs,” explains the three-time world champion. “On the medium tires, you can still build a bit, but then you go to the soft tire in Q3 and only really drive one lap. That wasn’t easy. You can’t drive to the limit.”
Issues with Balance
Verstappen’s final fast lap, good enough for pole, wasn’t entirely flawless. “Looking back at the lap, we had some issues with the balance,” says the Red Bull driver. “But finishing ahead of all the other drivers was, of course, very positive.”
Despite the joy of his first pole position since the summer break, Verstappen remains vigilant. “Lewis made a small mistake in turn twelve, otherwise he would have also come further forward. I’m happy, but I also know that there are many fast cars around me.” Verstappen hopes to capitalize on his pole position during the sprint race by making the RB20 “manageable” and ensuring it “performs well on the tires during the race.
