Singapore pole-setter Max Verstappen: “Our Formula 1 car has been strong so far”

For Max Verstappen, the Singapore weekend has gone exactly as planned so far. The Dutchman from the Red Bull Racing team first secured pole position for the first-ever sprint race in the history of the Singapore Grand Prix. He went on to win the mini-race, benefiting from George Russell’s retirement after the latter had overtaken him in the opening metres.

Verstappen was clearly delighted with the win, but was frustrated by his botched start, which he described as ‘terrible’. For Sunday’s race, he has set himself the goal of getting away better from the line. Looking ahead to the early stages of the Grand Prix, he said: ‘Well, you have to look on the bright side. It can’t get any worse, only better. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow.”

Max Verstappen: “It was a pretty close qualifying session”

And the 29-year-old praised: “Our Formula 1 car has been strong so far. Of course, there are always things you look at and can improve on. But it was good enough to take pole. That’s why I’m very happy. It was a good qualifying session. It was pretty close, but in the end I achieved what I wanted. That’s why I’m also very satisfied.”

The four-time world champion explains how he managed to secure his 50th Grand Prix pole position on a circuit where he has yet to celebrate a Grand Prix victory as follows: “I think our Formula 1 car now performs differently to how it did before the regulation changes. We’re now quick in different sections of the corners. But yes, we’re happy to take that. For us, it’s certainly something very special to take pole here.”

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