Verstappen: Red Bull can’t fight Mercedes in Japanese GP
Max Verstappen has already dismissed his chances of fighting for victory at the ⛄Japanese Grand Prix against the Mercedes pair despite qualifying in third directly b൲ehind Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.
The Red Bull driver profited from a questionable Ferrari strategy in Q3's mixed cꦬonditions to produce his best lap early in the session to༒ lockdown third place albeit with a 1.3-second deficit to pole-sitter Hamilton.
Max Verstappen has already dismissed his chancꦑes of fighting for victory at the Japanese Grand Prix againstཧ the Mercedes pair despite qualifying in third directly behind Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.
The Red Bull driver profited from a questionable F꧑errari strategy in Q3's mixed conditions to produce his best lap early in the se🧔ssion to lockdown third place albeit with a 1.3-second deficit to pole-sitter Hamilton.
Having🐼 struggled to match the Mercedes’ pace in practice, while being fancied for challenging Ferrari at Suzuka, Verstappen says Red Bull’s focus will be fighting to retain his poဣdium place rather than attacking for victory against the reigning F1 world champions.
“I honestly don’t think we can take the fight [🌞to Mercedes],” Verstapp🔜en said. “At this track, being as close as I can, but I think we’re quite far off.
“So I’m hoping for the same tomorrow but definitely Ferrari, with Kimi starting behind me, he will try to put some pressure on and I think Sebastian will 𒊎come through the field. I think we have to make sure we have the right strategy.”
Kimi Raikkonen starts alongside Verstappen in fourth place for Ferrari while Sebastian Vettel will line up down in eighth – after Esteban Ocon was hit with a three-place grid pen𝓡alty after a red flag infrin🐭gement from FP3.
With focus turning to defending from the Ferrari pair, Verstappen concedes Red Bull has struggled to find a ‘good compr🅺omise’ with its set-up to cover its power deficit to its main rivals. The Dutch driver was particularly frustrated following Friday practice but is optimistic ahead of the race thanks to overnight fixes.
“After yesterday I was really no🔯t happy but t💯oday it was a lot better,” he said. “It’s difficult to find a good compromise, losing quite a lot of straights, then gaining a lot of downforce. It evens out a bit.
“It’s a little better on the straight, but a little bit 🌜slower in the corners so in the end of the day it didn’t matter what ꧒we put on the car.”
12 months ago Red Bull secured a double podium result behind race winner Hamilton at the Japanese Grand Prix following the mec𒈔hanical nightmare which struck Ferrari.
