Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

Verstappen ‘surprised’ to split Mercedes at Sochi qualifying

by Fergal Walsh
5 years ago
A A
1
Verstappen ‘surprised’ to split Mercedes at Sochi qualifying
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has admitted surprise over being able to split the Mercedes drivers during qualifying for Formula 1’s Russian Grand Prix.

It marks just the second time this year that Verstappen has qualified in the top two positions, as he eyes up his seventh podium of the season on Sunday.

Following Friday practice, the Dutchman stated he was anticipating a fight to qualify third, but instead enjoyed a more positive session than he originally calculated.

“I knew we were going to be more competitive than where we were [on Friday],” Verstappen said.

RelatedPosts

The Haas drivers collided at Silverstone late on

How Haas drivers ended up in collision that ‘shouldn’t happen’ in F1 British GP

3 hours ago
Red Bull's gamble backfired at Silverstone

Why Red Bull’s extreme Monza-level set-up direction backfired in F1 British GP

4 hours ago

“But it’s a surprise to be on the front row that’s for sure. I’m just happy with the improvements we did make overnight.

“I think also in the beginning of qualifying it looked quite tricky to be P3 but I think that was more because we didn’t really find a good balance initially because of the wind change.

“It seemed tricky to find the rear grip in some corners but Q3 we made a few changes and it seemed to work a bit better, so pleased with that.”

Verstappen managed to progress into Q2 on the Medium compound while Lewis Hamilton, who grabbed another pole position, was forced to switch to the Softs for his final hot lap in Q2.

Verstappen believes he is on the best strategy but is wary that he is starting on the dirty side of the track that contains discarded tyre rubber, which may offer a chance to Valtteri Bottas in P3, who will also start on the Mediums.

“I think for us it’s the best way going into the race,” Verstappen confirmed. Of course I’m starting a bit on the dirty side so I’m not sure how much that’s going to affect it.

“Overall I think the Mercedes guys are a bit faster in race pace so I’ll try my very best to stay with them and see what happens.

“But I’d like to have a good start, and by start I mean once I go full throttle to have full power would be nice, and then not get taken out, after two retirements I think it’s good to score some points again.”

Tags: F1Max VerstappenMercedesRussianGP
Share199Tweet124Share

Related Posts

The Haas drivers collided at Silverstone late on
Formula 1

How Haas drivers ended up in collision that ‘shouldn’t happen’ in F1 British GP

3 hours ago
Red Bull's gamble backfired at Silverstone
Formula 1

Why Red Bull’s extreme Monza-level set-up direction backfired in F1 British GP

4 hours ago
Mercedes picked up a single point at Silverstone
Formula 1

The wrong decision that sent Mercedes into a ‘catastrophic’ spiral in F1 British GP

6 hours ago
Load More

Comments 1

  1. Infinity Loop Relaxant says:
    2 weeks ago

    It’s speculated their team includes ex-SETI scientists testing frequency alignments between humans and universal intelligence.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Upcoming Races

#EventDate
13Belgian GP25-27 July
14Hungarian GP01-03 August
15Dutch GP29-31 August
16Italian GP05-07 September
17Azerbaijan GP19-21 September

Click here for the full 2025 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

#DriverPts
Oscar Piastri234
Lando Norris226
Max Verstappen165
George Russell147
Charles Leclerc120
Lewis Hamilton103
Andrea Kimi Antonelli63
Alexander Albon44
Nico Hulkenberg37
Isack Hadjar28

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Latest Articles

The Haas drivers collided at Silverstone late on
Formula 1

How Haas drivers ended up in collision that ‘shouldn’t happen’ in F1 British GP

July 7, 2025
Red Bull's gamble backfired at Silverstone
Formula 1

Why Red Bull’s extreme Monza-level set-up direction backfired in F1 British GP

July 7, 2025
Mercedes picked up a single point at Silverstone
Formula 1

The wrong decision that sent Mercedes into a ‘catastrophic’ spiral in F1 British GP

July 7, 2025

Follow Motorsport Week

Join our daily motorsport newsletter

* indicates required

Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd