Having claimed each pole place up to now within the 2024 F1 season, Verstappen seemed sturdy favorite once more after topping Q2 of sprint qualifying within the dry.
However as rain fell on the Shanghai Worldwide Circuit it produced a significant unknown given no driver had any moist operating at a monitor F1 had not visited for 5 years.
With a number of drivers slipping off the monitor in Q3, Verstappen had two lap instances deleted for off-track moments triggered by the moist situations.
The reigning F1 world champion’s finest clear lap positioned him fourth on the grid for the Chinese language GP dash race, however he was over two seconds slower than polesitter Lando Norris for McLaren.
Verstappen conceded he was unable to get the intermediate tyres in the most effective working temperature window within the prime 10 shootout and it left him feeling like he was “driving on ice”.
“It was extremely slippery, I struggled quite a bit to get the temperature into the tyres so that’s the reason it is vitally troublesome to maintain the automotive on monitor,” Verstappen stated.
“It by no means actually switched on for me so it was like driving on ice. That’s the reason I feel we need to be the place we’re after qualifying.
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing RB20
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
“As a result of it was not likely working for me within the moist, regardless that within the dry I feel we glance fairly good. So, after all, I’m fairly proud of that.”
Waiting for the primary dash race of the season, Verstappen expects to be at an obstacle beginning on the left-hand aspect of the grid as it’s off the racing line in comparison with the polesitter and odd-numbered starters on the grid.
Regardless of beginning down in fourth and the unfavoured aspect of the grid, if the dash race is dry Verstappen hopes to make progress up the order utilizing Pink Bull’s superior tyre life administration over the 19-lap dash race.
“It isn’t ideally suited to start out on the within right here, it’s a lot decrease grip on the left in comparison with the fitting with this painted stuff on the tarmac,” he defined. “Now we have to try to have the most effective begin attainable.
“Then it’s going to be fairly an extended stint on one set of tyres within the dash however that makes it fairly fascinating.”