Spielberg, Austria – June 29: Dutchman Max Verstappen, from Oracle Red Bull Racing, secured pole position and stops at parc fermé during qualifying for the Austrian Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring on June 29, 2024 in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
It is quite surprising to see the four-tenths difference Verstappen had over Norris in Q3, especially considering that Verstappen himself seemed surprised. In the last four races, he narrowly missed out on pole position, so this victory must be particularly gratifying for him. Verstappen’s success continued throughout the day as he also won the Sprint Race, defeating Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri in a fierce battle.
Verstappen expressed his satisfaction with the day’s events, stating that it was a good day for him and the team. He was extremely happy to secure P1 in the Sprint Race and then follow it up with pole position in Qualifying. Verstappen praised the team for their competitiveness and the improvements made after the Sprint Race. He felt that the car’s balance was much better, allowing him to push to the limit during qualifying. Verstappen was pleasantly surprised by the difference between him and the other drivers, which he attributed to the small changes made to the car. He eagerly awaited the race the next day, recognizing it as the most important part of the weekend.
In contrast to Verstappen’s success, Sergio Perez had a more challenging weekend. He finished eighth in the Sprint Race and was over eight tenths behind his teammate’s pace in qualifying. Perez acknowledged that it had been a tough weekend and emphasized the need to keep working hard. He explained that they didn’t have the necessary margins in Q1 and Q2, which resulted in using more new sets of tires than planned. This left them with only used sets for Q3. Despite the difficulties, Perez remained optimistic, believing that the race would be close and anything could happen.
Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, reflected on the team’s performance on their home turf. He praised Verstappen for his incredible performance in both the Sprint Race and Qualifying, especially considering the small margins at the Red Bull Ring. Horner acknowledged that Perez faced challenges due to using all of his new sets of tires in the qualifying sessions. He emphasized the importance of Perez having a strong race the next day, as his competitors from McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes were all close in terms of performance. The stage was set for an exciting race.
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