Verstappen warns qualifying ‘not our strongest point’ after Austrian GP pole

Max Verstappen warned his rivals that “qualifying is not our strongest point” after claiming pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix.

The reigning world champion came out on top in a very close battle with the two Ferraris at the Red Bull Ring, as less than 0.1s covered the three drivers.

Mercedes too had also looked like a threat before both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell crashed in Q3.

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Speaking after he claimed his third straight pole at Spielberg though, Verstappen was more optimistic looking ahead to Saturday’s Sprint.

“We have a great car,” he said.

“Let’s say that qualifying is not our strongest point so I just hope to have a clean Turn 1, a good getaway and from there onward, anything can happen

“But I feel confident with the car we have.”

Verstappen had dropped to third at one point in the final moments of Q3 and hadn’t improved on his first and second sector times on his last lap. But a personal best final sector was enough to get the job done.

And the Dutchman admitted the two red flags caused by the Mercedes crashes were not ideal.

“It was a very long wait between the two runs and that is never great,” he explained. “Once you are in a rhythm it is just nice to keep on going.

“Also, the track temperature was dropping, the wind was changing a little bit but at the end, it was a very tight qualifying and it is a really challenging track as well to get everything right.

“There are not that many corners but the corners you have are tricky and it is easy to make a mistake.

“Of course, I am very happy with pole, but I also know that tomorrow and Sunday you can get the points.”