Max Verstappen has expressed concerns about Red Bull's ability to challenge McLaren after a disappointing qualifying session at the Austrian Grand Prix. Verstappen, who qualified seventh, admitted that the team was "miles off pole" and that the car's balance had "completely disappeared" during qualifying. He also stated that the hotter conditions did not favor their car.
Verstappen's qualifying result at Red Bull's home race equaled his worst of the season. He was even out-qualified by Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls. Verstappen's final flying lap was affected by yellow flags caused by Pierre Gasly's spin. Despite this, Verstappen acknowledged that they were still far from challenging for pole position. Lando Norris secured pole position, with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri initially qualifying third before Gasly received a penalty that moved Piastri to second.
Verstappen described the car as "undriveable" in Q2, and after qualifying, he said that every corner felt like a struggle due to a lack of balance. He noted that the car exhibited different behavior on each lap, making it difficult to find a rhythm. Verstappen also said that the team made only minor changes to the setup, which shouldn't have significantly affected the car's balance.
Verstappen tempered expectations for the race, stating that he didn't anticipate fighting at the front. He added that Red Bull has not been more competitive in races than in qualifying this season. Verstappen admitted that he didn't expect qualifying to be "this bad" and that the team needs to analyze what went wrong.
Red Bull brought upgrades to the Austrian Grand Prix, but Verstappen dismissed claims that they were responsible for the poor qualifying performance. He stated that the team "really took a step back" from FP3 to qualifying. Verstappen emphasized that his focus was on doing the best he could during the race weekend, and he hoped to be competitive with Ferrari or Mercedes.
McLaren's strong performance was attributed to a combination of factors, including the track characteristics and the car's optimization. Team principal Andrea Stella also highlighted the upgrades the team brought to the race. Lando Norris expressed satisfaction with the car's development and the positive steps forward made by the upgrades.
Despite the disappointing qualifying session, Verstappen sportingly acknowledged Liam Lawson's strong performance. He also helped Sauber driver Bortoleto by giving him a tow after his own lap was ruined. Verstappen stated that he aims for first place, but acknowledged the significant gap to McLaren.
The Austrian Grand Prix is known for its short lap times and close qualifying margins. Overheating can be a concern, requiring careful tire management. Red Bull has a strong record at the Red Bull Ring, with Verstappen having won four times at the Austrian Grand Prix and once at the Styrian Grand Prix. However, based on the qualifying results, Verstappen faces an uphill battle to add to that tally.
