Verstappen impressed with P5 in Las Vegas qualifying, outpacing Norris, while Pérez’s struggles continued with another Q1 exit.
Max Verstappen set the fifth-fastest time in qualifying for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, surprising even himself by finishing ahead of Lando Norris, who qualified sixth as McLaren’s best representative on the grid.
“We tried to do our best. We worked well together and tested many different things to find the right direction,” Verstappen said.
“I think what we did was the right approach, but it’s clearly not enough to fight for pole. I’m still quite happy. We’re ahead of McLaren, which is a bit surprising to me, but I’m pleased with how qualifying went and with my laps.”
Red Bull brought a high-downforce rear wing, and Verstappen questioned the decision: “We don’t have a Monza-specific rear wing, which is what’s needed here. This is something we’ve chosen since the start, but we haven’t had this type of rear wing for three years now due to the budget cap.”
“Perhaps it’s something we need to reconsider. Running like this isn’t very efficient. It’s two races now where we’ve left lap time on the table. We’ll think about it for the future, but there’s only one year left under these regulations, so it may not make sense to change.”
Verstappen remains uncertain about his race pace, casting doubt on his ability to seal his fourth consecutive title during tomorrow’s Las Vegas GP: “At the moment, it’s hard to say.”
“We haven’t been very strong on long runs, and both of us have more degradation compared to other teams. But many teams have made changes, so only the race will show how things stand.”
Sergio Pérez, meanwhile, suffered his sixth Q1 elimination of the season, ending up 16th. The Mexican driver admitted his frustration: “I really wanted more today, and I felt we were making good progress.”
“But in the end, it wasn’t enough. The session proved quite challenging. The race pace [over long runs] seemed much more competitive than at the start of the weekend, so I’m looking forward to the race.”
- Discover More>Hamilton laments missed pole after Q3 errors in Las Vegas
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Pérez Falters Again as Verstappen Limits Qualifying Damage Pérez Falters Again as Verstappen Limits Qualifying Damage
