Max Verstappen described himself as “super annoyed” as he narrowly missed out on his first career pole position at the Mexican Grand Prix.
Verstappen, having comfortably led the way in Q2, set the benchmark in Q3 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, but was overhauled by Sebastian Vettel, who inched 0.086s clear.
Verstappen, meanwhile, was unable to improve on his final run, and wound up second, equalling his best qualifying result.
“Super annoyed,” said Verstappen when asked for his sentiments. “I don’t know… actually in Q3 it just got a bit more difficult.
“I couldn’t really get the tyres to work, of course second is good but not in the way it went.
“I gave it my all, of course, but today in qualifying it was just not enough, I really wanted that pole position, but at least we have a decent start position.”
Verstappen is under investigation for allegedly impeding Valtteri Bottas on the short straight between Turns 12 and 13 during the early Q3 runs, but he dismissed suggestions he held up the Mercedes driver.
“That’s his own problem then if he out brakes himself in the next corner,” Verstappen said, referring to Bottas erring into Turn 13.
“I didn’t hold him up, he can say what he wants. That’s why I moved to the inside, I was already past the point where you go to the right, so I don’t see an incident.”
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