Verstappen poleman before the deluge: “The Q3 times are so bad! »

It’s a 31st career pole position that he will probably never forget. Max Verstappen was the fastest in Q3 on Friday, during qualifying for the Brazilian GP. The Dutchman, author of his 11th pole this season, set the best time just before the weather got wild on the Interlagos circuit.

Only a few moments after all the drivers had returned to their boxes, torrential rain and powerful winds prematurely ended the session, the stewards having had the good reflex to bring out the red flag 4 minutes from the end.

Max Verstappen, however, did not set a phenomenal time in Q3, seven tenths off his best time in Q2. This was due to gusts of wind which completely disrupted the cars.

“We didn’t know when [the rain] was going to fall. We thought it was going to happen, but now... it's crazy weather! We were discussing it with Charles [Leclerc], our times were so bad [in Q3], underlines the poleman of the day. I don't know, the wind started to turn and start blowing really hard. We lost a lot of time because of that. It was quite hectic in this last lap! »

Verstappen highlights low gaps in Brazil

Once again in pole position, Max Verstappen will start in ideal conditions on Sunday for the race, in a Grand Prix which has eluded him since 2019. The Batavian remains cautious and highlights the very tight gaps between the drivers in São Paulo.

“It seems that we are all very close. We saw it in qualifying, I expect the same in the race, confided the three-time world champion. Here, there is always a lot of damage to the tires. It's all about management and we saw last year that we weren't successful. I think this year it will be better. »

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