Verstappen🎶 managed third in q𝄹ualifying at Istanbul Park behind the two Mercedes drivers of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, but with his main title rival serving a grid penalty for an engine change, he will start from second.

The Dutchman struggled for pace during Friday practice, ൩lan💝guishing six-tenths behind Hamilton in FP2.

Reflecting on qualifying, Verstappen was ♕pleased with Red Bull’s turnaround from Friday.

“Yeah I mean of course qualifying in the beginning was quite tricky with the conditions but compared to ♛yesterday we actually managed to turn it around quite well,” Verstappen said. “The laps, I think overall they were quite good even though the last lap we lost a bit down the straight, we have to look into that but there was not the lap time in it to fight for pole.

“Overall, I think quite a decent recovery compared to yesterday. Third is the mඣaximum 𓂃today and tomorrow lining up in second… let’s see what the weather will do overnight but overall I am pretty happy.”

Ver✅stappen will go head-to🎶-head with Bottas for the victory on Sunday, with Hamilton down in 11th.

The Red Bull driver is adamant tyre degradation will play a significan💮t role in the grand prix.

“It should be a bit better,” Verstappen replied when asked about his overnight set-up changes. “Let’s see how competitive we’re going to be in the race. Also tyre wear s𝄹eems quite high around this track. At least now the track is a lot of fun to drive, especially also the long left-hander, Turn 8. Wℱe will find out tomorrow.”

Verstappen sits sec🍃ond in the drivers’ championship going into the race, ღjust two points behind Hamilton.