Verstappen discusses the massive qualifying gap to Hamilton

As Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton romped to victory in qualifying in Brazil, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen stated second place was the best he could hope for.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen remarked that second place in qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix was the best he could do.

Verstappen shares the front row of the grid with Lewis Hamilton for the Saturday Sprint Qualifying race, despite finishing four tenths of a second slower than the Mercedes racer.

With Hamilton facing a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race after installing the new Mercedes engine in the back of his vehicle this weekend, Verstappen blamed the modification for the majority of his qualifying loss to his title rival.

“When they take a new engine, naturally they have a bit more power for the weekend so, for me, it’s not a big shock,” Verstappen said after the session.

“I’m just happy to be second, that’s a good position to start from. Of course, you always want to be closer, but sometimes you just have to be realistic, and there was not much more in it.”

“Sunday is the most important one”

Even if Verstappen finishes second to Hamilton in Saturday’s Sprint Qualifying, he will start the main Grand Prix on Sunday from pole position. As a result, being so far behind on single-lap pace doesn’t worry the championship leader.

“There are not that many points to gain in the Sprint race,” added Verstappen.

“I hope to have a good first lap and see from there and then the most important one is on Sunday.”

With temperatures expected to rise as the weekend progresses, Verstappen believes there are still unanswered questions about the cars’ respective speeds.

“It will be completely different [on Sunday] anyway,” he commented.

“It’s going to be a lot warmer, so that will change the behaviour of the car as well.”

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