A crash near the end of the third free practice costed Max Verstappen a chance to secure a good starting position for tomorrow's Monaco Grand Prix race. The Dutchman clipped the barrier in the Swimming Pool chicane while trying to avoid a contact with Carlos Sainz Jr.
This unfortunate mistake made him unable to compete in this afternoon's qualifying session. Therefore the young Dutch driver will have to start the Monaco Grand Prix from the last place on the starting grid. Soon after the qualifying session ended, Verstappen made his first comments after the crash in which he was involved in FP3.
"I have to look at myself, l made a mistake. This was my mistake," Verstappen told Sky Sports shortly after the qualifying session concluded. "I got caught off guard [by a slower car] but that's not an excuse and I hit the wall." he continued. This mistake comes after a series of crashes which haunted his start of the season.
"I wouldn't call Barcelona an incident. Together with China, this was mistake. Of course it's not what you like to happen but it happens." Verstappen continued.When asked to offer a plausible explanation for his crashes, the Red Bull driver replied briefly: "At the moment l can't. Here in Monaco it is very easily done compared to other tracks."
On the other hand, Daniel Ricciardo, Verstappen's teammate at Red Bull Racing, set the fastest lap ever recorded around the Monaco streets to secure his second career pole position. The Monaco Grand Prix race will commence tomorrow at 2:10 PM GMT time.
Paul Athes
"I wouldn't call Barcelona an incident."
@Paul Athes: What are you talking about? He did nothing wrong at Barcelona!
He'll be back. It's going to be a great race tomorrow. What an year ... the best for a very long time.
At least we will see some overtaking in the back, that's for sure. That Red Bull is vastly superior to every other car on the grid in Monaco. It's remarkable.
Can't see RB keeping him on, he is just so collision costly!
Would like to see him in a Sauber, then we would see he isn't that special at all.
F1 is an marketing platform wrapped up in a sport. The amount of airtime that verstappen is generating is enormous. He is also polarizing which means that you can have great rivalries. This year will is all about refining and is in line with an eventual WC.
@ REG: prepair yourself for the moment Lewis will no longer be able to win the championship and Verstappen will!
@reg - and I would like to see all internet trolls in one huge garbage can.
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boudy
Posts: 1,168
He'll be back. It's going to be a great race tomorrow. What an year ... the best for a very long time.