Max Verstappen’s mindset has been questioned by Damon Hill after the Dutchman struggled in sprint qualifying. The Red Bull star could only manage P3 on the grid after being pipped by team-mate Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari.
Verstappen made a slight error in his first run in SQ3 which cost him the crucial time needed to challenge. However, Hill has suggested it was Verstappen’s approach to the weekend which needed to be looked at.
The reigning champion has criticised the new race weekend format and even threatened to quit over the updates. But, Hill suggested this could have backfired after a difficult display on Saturday morning.
He told Sky Sports F1: “Maybe it doesn’t help that he’s come into this whole sprint idea with a negative mindset. You know, he’s maybe he’s not delivering the very best he can because he doesn’t like the whole idea of it. But I think that’s a bit of a stretch to say that.”
Verstappen appeared to lose control of his car at turn five and six with his rear end stepping out on the corner exit. Crucially, drivers are not allowed to pit for new tyres in the new sprint qualifying format meaning it was difficult to improve on a second run.
After the session, Verstappen appeared calm as he revealed the team were still confident ahead of the two races. He commented: “Everything was going well and the pace was good, but in Q3 on the first run on the soft I had a big moment in five, six and because of that the tyres were really hot.
“On the second lap with the most grip we had a horrible sector two so that was not fantastic. We managed to do another lap which not many other people managed to pull out. With this heat and how the tyres are behaving I think it’s not going to be a straightforward sprint.
“My first lap in Q3 where the fastest lap normally has to happen I had a terrible middle sector so that explains the gap. I’m not worried, I think in the race we can fight.”
Verstappen doubled down on his criticism of the new system on Thursday despite widespread support by the rest of the grid. He felt the new format would not increase the entertainment for fans as drivers at the front of the field would be too cautious.
Ahead of the weekend, he even suggested he could walk away if F1 bosses deviated from the sport’s DNA. He explained: “I hope there won’t be too many changes, otherwise I won’t be around for too long. I am not a fan of it at all. When we do all that kind of stuff, the weekend becomes very intense and we already do a lot of races.”
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
