It is difficult for the leadership of Red Bull Racing that qualifying for the Grand Prix of Italy on Saturday resulted in only fifth and ninth place on the grid. Both top advisor Helmut Marko and team principal Christian Horner had hoped for more.
In a qualifying in which for the first time was driven without ‘party mode’, Max Verstappen as number five had to put up with not only the Mercedes, but also Carlos Sainz (McLaren) and Sergio Pérez (Racing Point).
“We didn’t expect this, although Monza is not the ideal track to see the differences without party mode,” Marko said. Sky Sports. The difference between Verstappen and pole sitter Hamilton was almost nine tenths.
“The differences in top times between Q1, Q2 and Q3 are smaller, so the change seems to have had an effect. Furthermore, it did not help that Max’s fast lap was not perfect. A third place would have been possible.”
‘Fifth place Verstappen is a bit frustrating’
Team boss Horner is also disappointed that Red Bull is missing from the front two starting rows at the race in Italy on Sunday. “Our car is not easy here and Max’s fifth place is a bit frustrating, because we were so close to third place,” said the Briton.
Alex (Albon, ed.) Is only a few tenths behind Max, but is only number nine. He has work to do during the race. We still have to look at some things, but we have good drivers who will race offensively. That makes Turn 1 interesting. “
The Grand Prix of Italy, the eighth race of the Formula 1 season, starts on Sunday at 3.10 p.m. In 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018 Hamilton was the best at Monza on behalf of Mercedes. Last year the victory went to Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
– .
