Miami, Florida – Hi, continued shaking, and when the checkered flag flew at the end of the qualification for the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was where he had been so many times before about his historical career.
In the pole position.
The Red Bull driver published the fastest time in the first quarter on Saturday, but was reduced in P5 after the second quarter passed. However, when he said that the majority of Verstappen could find the small pieces of time he needed in his last round, to take the pole position ahead of Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli.
“I think separate from the entrance to curve 1, yes,” Verstappen said at the FIA press conference when asked if everything was removed from RB21. “But yes, it is only a very complicated leg to carry the tires in the right window on an entire return. So I think that in retrospect … or of course, never because you have a surviving moment at the entrance, but throughout the return I became a little more comfortable.
“So yes, of course, very happy to be in pole. I think that all grades, such as Q1, Q2, Q3, continued to mark it and continue to improve a little. So that is exactly what you want.”
When he was pointed out that he found some additional tenths of his first round in the third quarter to his second, Verstappen described that he picked up the “bits” he needed in some different places.
“Just a little [Turns] 7–8 and then a little in the second sector. And then I think maybe a little in the last corner. So, small bits everywhere, “said Red Bull driver.
The team brought an improved floor to Miami for Verstappen, hoping to give the defense pilot champion a little more rhythm so that it can fight with the McLarens in the front of the field. When asked if the new floor was functioning as desired, Verstappen said that there are still “limitations” with the RB21, but the rhythm of a return has a “decent” leg for him.
“I mean, we are still fighting a little with our limitations in the car, but I think we have a quite decent leg on a return, if you look at the curves, we are a bit slow on the line this week.
“Then I think that McLaren and Mercedes, and play a new engine and, of course, that always gives a little more power than a used engine.
“But yes, it seems that it is a little better. Of course, the long career is a different story. The tires are very hot here. But, of course, tomorrow I do not know what will happen in terms of rain.
Even so, while Verstappen could find the bits he needed to take the pole position today, he knows that he and Red Bull need to find many more bits if another championship is in his future.
“Yes, we need to make less boy and we need to find more performance. I think it’s quite simple. It is simply not easy to extract or find,” Verstappen said. “You know, that’s how it is. But we continue to press, we continue trying to bring pieces to the car to make it faster.”
Today, Verstappen found enough bits to be the fastest.
But tomorrow is a new day here in Miami.
