Max Verstappen, despite initial struggles, qualified third for the Dutch Grand Prix, with Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko suggesting he could still "surprise" and win against a strong McLaren challenge.
The Big Picture
Verstappen, a three-time winner at Zandvoort before Lando Norris's victory in the 2024 race, faced difficulties in practice sessions, placing no higher than fifth. However, significant setup changes allowed him to close the gap to just 0.263 seconds in qualifying. He briefly faced an FIA investigation for driving unnecessarily slowly but was cleared.
What They're Saying
- Helmut Marko told Sky Germany: "This morning we were still eight tenths behind and now we’ve only lost sector 1, otherwise we’d be neck and neck."
- Marko added: "We were on a par with McLaren, especially on used tyres, so maybe there will be a surprise."
- Verstappen on his qualifying performance: "So far this weekend, we’ve been struggling for grip and general balance... luckily in qualifying, it was the best that I’ve felt all weekend."
- On race pace: "It’s a bit unknown... But I just hope that at least we can keep the guys behind us – literally behind us – in the race."
Meanwhile, on the Grid
Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar secured an impressive fourth place, his best qualifying result to date, despite an engine problem in Friday's FP2 session. Marko praised Hadjar's resilience, noting, "Hadjar had problems with the power unit twice yesterday, but he put that behind him and when it matters, he delivers."
What's Next
Verstappen aims to secure his fourth victory in five years at Zandvoort on Sunday, despite the strong competition from McLaren.