BREAKING NEWS: Max Verstappen Again, BLAMED…for poor Azerbaijan GP…read more

Max Verstappen Again, BLAMED…for poor Azerbaijan GP…read more

Max Verstappen took responsibility for his disappointing performance in the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying, attributing it to changes Red Bull made to their car, which ultimately made it harder to drive. While Verstappen admitted to making mistakes on the demanding Baku City Circuit, he stressed that the adjustments made the car less comfortable and confident to push to its limits.

For the first time in the 2024 F1 season, Verstappen will start behind his teammate Sergio Perez on the grid purely based on pace, with the Dutchman qualifying sixth for Sunday’s race on September 14, set along the Caspian Sea. Red Bull’s struggles in Baku came as a surprise after the team showed competitive pace during Friday’s Free Practice 2. However, between FP3 and qualifying, the gap to their rivals grew significantly, leaving Verstappen more than six-tenths behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who secured pole position.

After qualifying, Verstappen spoke to F1 TV about the difficulties he encountered with the car. “I think some changes that we made going into qualifying, thinking they would improve the car, actually made it worse,” Verstappen explained. “From the first lap I did in qualifying, I was not happy with the car, and I just tried to drive around it.”

Baku’s street circuit is notoriously tricky, and Verstappen emphasized that his inability to feel comfortable with the car affected his ability to attack. “When you’re not confident and comfortable with the car on a street circuit, you cannot push to the limit, and I think that’s basically what happened,” he said. “As soon as it matters, people start risking more, but I just didn’t feel comfortable enough to attack.”

The car’s instability added to Verstappen’s frustration, with the Red Bull suffering from excessive bouncing and losing contact with the track. “The car was very difficult—jumping a lot, losing contact with the tarmac. So, it wasn’t very nice,” he said. Verstappen also made an error in the final corner, which contributed to his disappointing result. “Of course, I went off in the last corner, which also didn’t help. All in all, it was quite disappointing,” he added.

Verstappen entered the Azerbaijan GP weekend following two lackluster races. At the Dutch Grand Prix and the Italian Grand Prix, he finished well behind the race winners, 23 and 38 seconds adrift, respectively. These performances had already placed the reigning world champion on the back foot, and Baku seemed to compound his challenges.

Despite his difficult qualifying session, Verstappen still holds a strong lead in the 2024 Drivers’ Championship. He has a 62-point advantage over his rivals, though with the races ticking down, that margin could soon shrink. However, Verstappen was handed an unexpected reprieve when Lando Norris, his closest title challenger, was eliminated in Q1 after a confusing yellow flag incident. Norris only managed to qualify 17th, meaning he will face an uphill battle to score points in the race. This turn of events has given Verstappen a chance to extend his championship lead for the first time since the summer break in July, despite his own struggles.

Red Bull’s form in Baku raised concerns for the team, particularly given that their Friday pace indicated they would be strong contenders. The drop-off between FP2 and qualifying will likely prompt an investigation into the setup changes that affected both Verstappen and Perez’s performances. While Perez will start ahead of Verstappen in fifth place, both drivers are far from where Red Bull would have expected them to be.

The Azerbaijan GP is known for its unpredictability, and street circuits can often deliver dramatic results, especially with tire strategies and safety cars potentially coming into play. Verstappen’s ability to recover from a difficult starting position will be crucial if he is to fend off any further reduction in his championship lead.

As the 2024 F1 season approaches its final stretch, Verstappen and Red Bull will need to quickly regroup and find solutions to their recent struggles. While the Dutchman remains in the driver’s seat for a third consecutive world title, his margin for error is decreasing, especially as other teams continue to close the gap. Sunday’s race in Baku will provide a key opportunity for Verstappen to consolidate his championship lead and bounce back from his recent setbacks.

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Chris Harvey Jr.

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