Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen is anxious his group has slipped to fourth in Method 1’s 2025 pecking order after enduring a sobering dash race and qualifying session in China.
Verstappen struggled to maintain up with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton within the 19-lap dash on Saturday morning, having began alongside the Briton on the entrance row, and he was powerless to maintain McLaren’s Oscar Piastri behind because of extreme entrance tyre put on.
The Dutchman appeared to restrict the harm in qualifying, however nonetheless did not qualify larger than fourth for Sunday’s grand prix, whereas team-mate Liam Lawson drowned and can line up final on the beginning grid.
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Verstappen shipped simply 0.176 seconds to polesitter Piastri in a decent qualifying session, with Mercedes’ George Russell and the second McLaren of Lando Norris additionally forward.
However he fears Pink Bull is now in a worse place than in the direction of the top of final yr as a result of the RB21 lacks tempo to maintain up with McLaren – and the Dutchman believes that Ferrari and Mercedes are forward too.
When requested if Pink Bull is now the fourth-fastest group in F1, he replied: “That is what it looks like for me in the intervening time.
“I have been feeling actually good and relaxed within the automotive, additionally in qualifying. I have been in a position to maximise it, but it surely’s simply too sluggish.”
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs
Verstappen says the stability of his automotive retains shifting each lap, whereas over a race stint his automotive’s inferior tyre administration is a big fear.
“Final yr we additionally had quite a lot of tyre degradation right here on the fronts, however now it’s kind of extra excessive,” he added.
“However it’s clear we’re simply not in an excellent place, particularly in comparison with McLaren but in addition the opposite groups.”
Requested if he was nonetheless aiming for a podium, he stated: “I do not even need to take into consideration that proper now. The Ferraris beginning behind me additionally appeared faster within the dash.
“Our tyre degradation [in the sprint] was higher [than FP1] however nonetheless not adequate and, when you’re speaking a couple of full race distance, meaning you are dropping again fairly far.
“It isn’t like I can take it simpler both, as a result of then you definately’ll get overtaken as nicely.
“We modified a couple of issues into qualifying, however I do not suppose it’ll change a complete lot. I feel our deficit is larger than it was final yr.”
Images from Chinese language GP – Dash Race & Qualifying
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On this article
Filip Cleeren
Method 1
Max Verstappen
Pink Bull Racing
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