Max starts from P2 in Hockenheim: 'Happy with second position'

Published on 27 July 2019 by Kees-Jan Koster

Max Verstappen will start the German Grand Prix from the front row. On the 4.574-meter-long circuit of Hockenheim he qualified on P2 after both Ferraris went out with engine issues. Lewis Hamilton was in his Mercedes the quickest while his teammate Valtteri Bottas qualified in P3. Max’ teammate Pierre Gasly finished the session in P4.

“We started Q1 relatively conservative”, says Max after qualifying. “I felt we were losing a bit of grip towards Q3, but of course I am happy with my second position.”

Max continues: “It is great to see so many Dutch fans, I am happy to start form the front row and tomorrow anything can happen. We could have been a bit closer, although I do not think we could have gotten on pole, but I went a bit wide and lost the front. But it is still a good result.”

It is lightly clouded and with 28 degrees quite a bit cooler than during the first two free practice sessions on Friday when Q1 gets underway. There is a small chance for rain during qualifying. The Williams of Robert Kubica comes out on track first. Teammate George Russell and Lance Stroll follow not much later the example of the Pole. After about seven minutes the top teams start to move too. Max gets in P1 after his first run while Sebastian Vettel reports loss of power over the board radio and returns to the pits.

After the first run in Q1 Max is behind Leclerc in P2. Vettel, Kubica, Russell, Lando Norris and Alexander Albon in the danger zone. Vettel will not come out again because the German gets out of his Ferrari ending his qualifying session. When the flag comes down it is Vettel, Russell, Kubica, Albon and Norris who drop out.

Hamilton and Bottas come out first in Q2 with in their wake the Ferrari of Leclerc. All three of these cars are on medium tyres. Not much later Max also comes out on medium tyres. Just after the start of his quick lap Max calls that he is losing power and returns to the pits. The RB15 of the Dutchman is driven rearwards into the garage. In the danger zone after the first run are alongside Max also both Renaults, Stroll and Daniil Kvyat.

Quickly we see Max appear on track again. The medium tyres are replaced by softs and the Dutchman has the track all for himself. After a relative slow out lap the quick Dutchman is able to squeeze a P4 out of his RB15 and secures himself a place in Q3. Max complains that there are still issues and returns to the pits. Antonio Giovinazzi, Kevin Magnussen, Ricciardo Kvyat and Stroll drop out of Q2.

Both Mercedes come out on track first in Q3. Carlos Sainz follows not much later and also Max does not wait long to start his first run while the Ferrari engineers are still working on Leclerc’s car. Hamilton sets the fastest time followed by Bottas. Max gets in between the two Mercedes and puts his RB15 in P2. Meanwhile Leclerc gets out of his car which means the Monegasque is finished.

Again both Mercedes come out first for a decisive second run. Max and Gasly follow shortly. Meanwhile the flag has come down when Hamilton passes the finish line. No one is able to improve which allows Hamilton to get pole position. Max stays in second position. Gasly improves his time but comes just short of Bottas to take P3.

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