Max Verstappen laid the best possible foundation for the defining race of the season. Lewis Hamilton had to settle for second, while Sergio Perez qualified himself fourth.
“We discussed the slipstreaming this morning and we lowered our downforce level. It was the only option to match Mercedes’ on the straights. I have to say that after Q1 I thought we would never meet Lewis’s times.”
“In Q2 it came to us a bit more. We had a blocking front wheel on the medium, which was not ideal. This forced us to use the soft tyre. Both runs in Q3 were exceptional. Checo giving Max the slipstream both straights, that was absolutely perfect teamwork.”
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Horner: “One of Verstappen’s best rounds of the year”
Horner praises his star driver, but also thanks Perez who gave the Dutchman a slipstream. “This was one of Max’s best rounds of the year. He also managed to match the second round, which he broke off. The tow is worth about one or second tenths, but certainly not half a second.”
“Max’s last sector was just insane!”, he cheers at Sky Sports. Horner thoroughly enjoyed the way Verstappen drove.
“Max really gave everything, he drove with his heart. He gave everything he had in this session. Checo showed himself to be a very good teammate, by giving up his optimal lap and giving Max that performance. don’t ask for more. We now have pole, now we have to cash in on it tomorrow.”
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