2
Red Bull's Max Verstappen is confident he can have a good start on the hard tyre, despite being the only driver to do so within the top ten for tomorrow's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.
Verstappen, who was edged out of fourth position by Racing Point reserve Nico Hulkenberg in the dying seconds of Q3, hopes he will have decent pace thanks to the tyre compounds being a step softer than what they were during last weekend's British Grand Prix.
"I just hope I can have a clean start on the hard tyre," Verstappen said.
"The hard tyre was last weekend's medium so I don't think it's going to be that bad compared to what [the other cars] are starting on.
"Of course you might lose a little bit on the initial launch but I think it's just going to be better for the first stint.
"It depends if there is going to be safety cars or not but we will just have to wait and see what other people are doing around me and if we can do a better job."
Verstappen also praised the qualifying effort of Hulkenberg, who returns to Racing Point this weekend to fill in for Sergio Perez.
Hulkenberg managed to qualify third on only his second race back after being dropped by Renault last year in favour of Esteban Ocon.
Verstappen expressed his delight for Hulkenberg's result, saying it was proof that Hulkenberg should've been already on the grid at the end of the season, hoping that his good results will be enough to see him return to the F1 grid full-time next year.
"Yeah, they have been competitive the whole weekend already and I'm very happy for Nico," Verstappen explained.
"He should have been already on the grid normally and of course I hope this gives him a seat for next year."
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
United Arab Emirates
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
756,521 comments on Red Bull Racing
968 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Max Verstappen
17,962 comments on Racing Point 0 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Racing Point
Replies (2)
Login to replyf1ski
Posts: 726
it was the same as the medium last week it should be just fine.
abhidbgt
Posts: 283
A masterstroke from Red Bull.