Having won every pole position so far in the 2024 F1 season, Verstappen looked hot favorite again after dominating Q2 of dry sprint qualifying.
But as rain fell on the Shanghai International Circuit, a major unknown arose as no driver had driven in the wet on a track that F1 had not visited for five years.
With several drivers going off track in Q3, Verstappen saw two lap times deleted for off-track moments triggered by the wet conditions.
The reigning F1 world champion’s fastest clean lap put him fourth on the grid for the Chinese GP sprint race, but he was more than two seconds slower than pole sitter Lando Norris for McLaren.
Verstappen admitted he was unable to get the intermediate tires in the best operating temperature window during the top 10 shootout and it made him feel like he was “driving on ice”.
“It was incredibly slippery, I had a lot of trouble getting the temperature in the tires up, that’s why it’s very difficult to keep the car on the track,” Verstappen said.
“It never really worked out for me, so it was like driving on ice. That’s why I think we deserve to be where we are after qualifying.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
“Because it didn’t really work for me in the wet, although in the dry I think we look pretty good. So, of course, I’m pretty happy with that.”
Ahead of the first sprint race of the season, Verstappen expects to be at a disadvantage starting on the left side of the grid as he is off the racing line compared to the pole sitter and the odd-numbered starters on the grid.
Despite starting fourth and being on the disadvantaged side of the grid, if the sprint race is dry Verstappen hopes to move up the standings using Red Bull’s superior tire life management during the 19 sprint race turns.
“It’s not ideal to start on the inside here, the grip on the left is much lower than the grip on the right with these things painted on the tarmac,” he explained. “We have to try to get the best start possible.
“Then the transition to the sprint is going to be quite long with only one set of tyres, but that makes things quite interesting.”
Having won every pole position so far in the 2024 F1 season, Verstappen looked hot favorite again after dominating Q2 of dry sprint qualifying.
But as rain fell on the Shanghai International Circuit, a major unknown arose as no driver had driven in the wet on a track that F1 had not visited for five years.
With several drivers going off track in Q3, Verstappen saw two lap times deleted for off-track moments triggered by the wet conditions.
The reigning F1 world champion’s fastest clean lap put him fourth on the grid for the Chinese GP sprint race, but he was more than two seconds slower than pole sitter Lando Norris for McLaren.
Verstappen admitted he was unable to get the intermediate tires in the best operating temperature window during the top 10 shootout and it made him feel like he was “driving on ice”.
“It was incredibly slippery, I had a lot of trouble getting the temperature in the tires up, that’s why it’s very difficult to keep the car on the track,” Verstappen said.
“It never really worked out for me, so it was like driving on ice. That’s why I think we deserve to be where we are after qualifying.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
“Because it didn’t really work for me in the wet, although in the dry I think we look pretty good. So, of course, I’m pretty happy with that.”
Ahead of the first sprint race of the season, Verstappen expects to be at a disadvantage starting on the left side of the grid as he is off the racing line compared to the pole sitter and the odd-numbered starters on the grid.
Despite starting fourth and being on the disadvantaged side of the grid, if the sprint race is dry Verstappen hopes to move up the standings using Red Bull’s superior tire life management during the 19 sprint race turns.
“It’s not ideal to start on the inside here, the grip on the left is much lower than the grip on the right with these things painted on the tarmac,” he explained. “We have to try to get the best start possible.
“Then the transition to the sprint is going to be quite long with only one set of tyres, but that makes things quite interesting.”