Verstappen plans a normal qualifying program despite his penalty

Would dominating the first free practice sessions for the Russian Grand Prix have given him ideas? Best time in EL2 with a time of 1'33''162, Max Verstappen pushes back his closest rival Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) at 0''335 and the fastest Mercedes, that of Valtteri Bottas more than six tenths. 

After a Singapore weekend where he was among the favorites but suffered from a surprising lack of pace with his RB15, the Batavian found some color in the Sochi Olympic Park.  

« Our lack of performance in Singapore was quite strange, he recalled when he got out of the car this Friday in Russia. We're trying to figure out where it went wrong there. So far the car is working very well here, especially in the last sector where I feel the car really comes alive.

We are also competitive on the first sector while there is a long straight line. Turn 3 is negotiated at full speed so it's another straight section. Since spec 3, I feel we have gained engine power. After all, it's only a Friday and there are always things to improve. 
 
The outcome of the day is positive. We tried quite a few things on the car and everything seems to work. We were competitive with the different types of tires, especially the soft compound. But it could rain tomorrow. I hope the car works in the wet. So far so good ». 

Verstappen also refuted the idea that his fine initial performance could be tinged with a touch of bitterness because of his grid penalty for using a new example of the Spec 4 Honda engine. The Flying Dutchman has known since Thursday that he will have to move back 5 places at the start on Sunday.  

« If you are fast, you can overtake on this circuithe insisted. And these are only 5 positions, the situation is not catastrophic. We will participate in the qualification as usual and see where we are ». 

Thursday, Verstappen mischievously assured that he would start 6th on the grid after his penalty was applied, a way of saying that he was aiming for pole on a regular basis. We now know that he probably wasn't joking.