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Verstappen on crucial mistake: "Couldn't believe I threw it away like that".
- GPblog.com
In qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Max Verstappen was on his way to a phenomenal pole lap, but a mistake in the final corner prevented him from doing so. Nowadays it doesn't matter to the World Champion, but at the time there was a high degree of disbelief.
"I couldn't believe myself that I threw it away like that. I completely missed the corner," acknowledged the Dutchman in conversation with Olav Mol at Ziggo Sport. Taking less risks was not an option according to Verstappen, because then he could have been third.
Verstappen explains mistake in qualifying Saudi Arabia
He now has an explanation as to how that moment could have happened. On the first lap he had more fuel on board because the plan was to do two laps, but instead Red Bull Racing brought him in for new tyres. "Then you have less fuel again. I was also the last one on the track, so then you have that slipstream effect from the wind," he explained.
"Because of that I arrived at that corner nine kilometers per hour faster, which is of course a huge difference. I didn't feel that at the time. So I braked five or six meters later than normal," added Verstappen.