Max fourth in Spain: “This wasn’t even the limit yet”

Published on 14 May 2016 by Mike Motilall

After finishing his first qualifying for Red Bull Racing, during which Max Verstappen sensationally took hold of the fourth position in Barcelona, the 18-year old Formula 1-driver faced the international press corps.

“I am very happy to be starting from the second row”, says Max – with microphone – in Red Bull’s busy hospitality. “I am pleased that I was so strong in Q1 and Q2, I didn’t expect that. I was just trying to put a fast lap together. That lap could have been better: I have only just gotten in to this new car and every lap I do, it is getting better. I really enjoyed it!”

Were you not a bit disappointed that Daniel Ricciardo got the better of you in the end, while you had the upperhand in Q1 and Q2? “No, there is no reason for that. You need to be realistic: Daniel is a very strong team mate, who knows the car longer and has all the confidence. The team is more than happy that we are third and fourth, that is just positive. We push each other and that can only be good for the team.”

How did you go about qualifying? “I didn’t know what to expect. I just got in the car and wanted to enjoy it. It all went pretty easy. I am still getting used to the car and am trying to find the limits more and more. Now it’s not about the perfect lap, but to feel better every lap I do in the car, getting a better feeling and making more progress. This was not the limit yet. Quite honestly, I am not sure where that is yet.”

Is the Spanish podium possible tomorrow? “We are very close and in terms of pace, it is possible, so who knows. It could be a target, but the main thing for me is to get a good start and keep out of trouble in the first lap. We’ll see what happens after that, hopefully our race pace is good enough. It will be an interesting race.”

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