Max sixth in qualifying for Monaco GP: ‘Automobile is troublesome to drive’
Revealed on Might 25, 2024 by Coen Versteeg
Max Verstappen has certified sixth for the Monaco Grand Prix. In an thrilling qualifying it was dwelling driver Charles Leclerc who took pole place. He’ll begin tomorrow subsequent to Oscar Piastri and forward of Carlos Sainz. Oracle Pink Bull Racing teammate Sergio Perez certified eighteenth.
“I discovered it fairly shocking that I might take part for thus lengthy. We tried all the pieces this weekend to discover a higher steadiness, however nothing works. The automobile is simply troublesome to drive. It says sufficient once you take a look at Checo. He’s usually good on avenue circuits, however if you find yourself eighteenth and sixth, it exhibits that we’ve got carried out dramatically,” says Max after qualifying.
“I attempted to get essentially the most out of it, however the automobile is so nervous in every single place. With each bump you hit fallacious, the automobile breaks out. I did not hit the wall very arduous, however I used to be instantly down three tenths. Then I believed: simply depart it alone.” Max continues: “I can not drive over the curbs. We drive a reasonably stiff automobile, as a result of gentle does not work. This implies you possibly can shortly block an inside wheel. After all, that additionally makes it tougher to show shortly in tight corners and it’s all very delicate.”
In a sunny Monaco, the primary vehicles drive out at precisely 4 p.m. native time for the beginning of qualifying. It’s maybe crucial session of the weekend, as a result of through the race it is rather troublesome to overhaul by way of the tight streets. Daniel Ricciardo kicks off the session with a 1:14.3, however that point is quickly set quite a bit quicker. After enhancements from Lando Norris, Yuki Tsunoda and Lewis Hamilton, Max takes first place with a 1:12.7.
Within the minutes that observe, the tempo turns into quicker and the primary few locations are exchanged. The shock of the session is the Haas staff. Each Nico Hulkenberg (P14) and Kevin Magnussen (P12) advance to Q2 and are sometimes on the entrance through the session. When the flag has fallen, Max is in seventh place. His time is 2 tenths slower than George Russell’s. The Brit is quickest in Q1 with a 1:11.492. The dropouts from the primary a part of the qualification are; Fernando Alonso, Logan Sargeant, Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu.
Q2 begins with the remaining fifteen drivers and now there’s speedy motion on the monitor. Max begins his qualifying properly and units a 1:11.1. Solely Carlos Sainz is quicker within the first run, however that hole is minimal by solely 19 thousandths. A bit later, the world champion improves to a 1:11.019, taking again the highest spot. Nonetheless, that point shouldn’t be sufficient for the quickest time of the session. Within the closing minutes, the primary rounds are recorded within the 1 minute and 10 seconds. Though Oscar Piastri is the primary to dip underneath 1:11, he finishes third in Q2. He’s solely 24 thousandths slower than teammate Lando Norris, who’s the quickest with a 1:10.732. Max splits the McLarens with simply 0.013 seconds behind Norris. The final 5 drivers who don’t advance to Q3 are; Esteban Ocon, Nico Hulkenberg, Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll and Kevin Magnussen.
Within the closing a part of qualifying, the battle for pole place stays thrilling. Hamilton kicks off with a 1:10.9, however Leclerc and Piastri lag behind with a 1:10.4. Max warms up his tires another way. He takes an additional lap to get his tires on the proper temperature. Verstappen’s first run is nice for third place, one and a half tenths behind Leclerc. Max now not has time for an enchancment. He hits the wall in his second run and ends his lap. As a result of enhancements from Sainz, Norris and Russell, Max can not get additional than sixth place. Pole place goes to Leclerc. He’s one and a half tenths quicker than Piastri who completes the entrance row.
Monaco GP competitors: win a Verstappen.com Racing cap signed by Max Verstappen!
Monaco qualifying end result:
poscoureurteamq1q2q31Charles LeclercLECFerrari1:11.5841:10.8251:10.2702Oscar PiastriPIAMcLaren Mercedes1:11.5001:10.7561:10.4243Carlos SainzSAIFerrari1:11.5431:11.0751:10.5184Lando NorrisNORMcLaren Mercedes1:11.7601:10.7321:10.5425George RussellRUSMercedes1:11.4921:10.9291:10.5436Max VerstappenVERRed Bull Racing Honda RBPT1:11.7111:10.7451:10.5677Lewis HamiltonHAMMercedes1:11.5281:11.0561:10.6218Yuki TsunodaTSURB Honda RBPT1:11.8521:11.1061:10.8589Alexander AlbonALBWilliams Mercedes1:11.6231:11.2161:10.94810Pierre GaslyGASAlpine Renault1:11.7141:10.8961:11.31111Esteban OconOCOAlpine Renault1:11.8871:11.28512Nico HulkenbergHULHaas Ferrari1:11.8761:11.44013Daniel RicciardoRICRB Honda RBPT1:11.7851:11.48214Lance StrollSTRAston Martin Mercedes1:11.7281:11.56315Kevin MagnussenMAGHaas Ferrari1:11.8321:11.72516Fernando AlonsoALOAston Martin Mercedes1:12.01917Logan SargeantSARWilliams Mercedes1:12.02018Sergio PerezPERRed Bull Racing Honda RBPT1:12.06019Valtteri BottasBOTKick Sauber Ferrari1:12.51220Zhou GuanyuZHOKick Sauber Ferrari1:13.028
