P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull has revealed that set-up changes Sergio Perez sampled in the Sprint race had a role in Max Verstappen qualifying quickest at the F1 Qatar Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen managed to take pole position in Qatar by surpassing George Russell in the final qualifying session, despite later receiving a one-place grid penalty for impeding a Mercedes car. The strong qualifying performance marked a turnaround for Red Bull after struggling with car balance earlier in the weekend, leading to an underwhelming result in the Sprint race. The team’s aggressive set-up alterations and hard work behind the scenes in Milton Keynes boosted Verstappen’s confidence and enabled him to outperform his rivals. Red Bull boss Christian Horner acknowledged the team’s efforts to transform the car’s performance after a disappointing Sprint race, where they made significant changes based on data gathered from Sergio Perez’s car. While the team hopes the changes will also translate into a competitive race pace for Verstappen on race day, they remain cautious about tire management and performance in the cold conditions. Verstappen’s stunning last lap and pole position in Qatar were the result of a collective effort and strategic adjustments by Red Bull.
