Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB19 leaves the pits. 20.10.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 19, United States Grand Prix, Austin, Texas, USA, Qualifying Day – www.xpbimages.com, EMail: [email protected] © Copyright: Batchelor / XPB Images
Max Verstappen quipped that his error during qualifying for Formula 1’s United States Grand Prix “will make Sunday more fun” as he prepares to start from sixth.
Verstappen set a time quick enough for pole position during the closing stages of Q3, eclipsing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by just 0.005s.
But Verstappen’s effort was swiftly deleted after it was judged that he had exceeded track limits through Turn 19.
As a consequence Verstappen is set to start Sunday’s race from sixth place on the grid.
“I knew in Turn 19 that it was going to be a close call,” said Verstappen.
“I had a little mistake in Turn 1 so I had to really push for it in the rest of the lap. It’s fine margins, honestly, I didn’t even understeer, I just tried to really maximise the corner and I misjudged it by a little bit.
“It’s very fine margins when you are pushing to the limit. Of course it’s a bit unfortunate but it makes the Sunday also a bit more fun.”
Verstappen has won 14 of this year’s 17 races and will equal his own record of victories in a season if he can climb from sixth on Sunday.
“Of course we want to win so for sure today was not ideal, but it’s still a long race and there’s a lot of things we can do better and have a bit of fun out there as well,” he said.
Keyword: Verstappen says mistake ‘makes Sunday more fun’