Formula 1: Piatri on Pole in the 50th race – Verstappen huge problem

He climbed out of his McLaren very cool and commented on the Pole for his 50th Grand Prix start without much emotion. Oscar Piatri also set a sign in the internal duel with WM leader Lando Norris and exploited the weakness of Max Verstappen in the Red Bull. The 24-year-old was the favorite role of the world of designers McLaren also lived up to the difficult conditions in the desert of Sakhir and drove to first place in the Formula 1 qualification.

“The others were a bit closer than I wanted, but when it came to it, I got the round,” said Piatri. But the others were not the one that could have been guessed. Norris only made it in six position. “I was just not good enough,” admitted the Brit, and looked as perplexed as it was steady. In the classification, he has 13 points more than Piatri.

Verstappen: “Actually nothing worked”

But not much was also possible with Verstappen in the Red Bull: only seventh. Again and again the four -time champion complained about problems with the brakes in the car. “As I feel in the car, I can’t say on TV,” he said with a sarcastic smile: “Actually nothing worked. It’s a huge problem.” In the classification he is second with a counter behind Norris.

Second in an exciting final phase of the co-excretion, George Russell was in the Mercedes in front of Charles Leclerc in Ferrari. Behind it, Andrea Kimi Antonelli was ranked fourth in the second Mercedes and Pierre Gasly in the Alpine. Nico Hülkenberg drove to 16th place in clean.

Quite a few had also assumed a large McLaren show in the fight for the starting places. Norris Fastest in the first free training, Piatri – before Norris – Fastest in the second and third free training. The rest – beaten. In addition, a few antics such as a loose steering wheel from Fernando Alonso in Aston Martin or a rearview mirror that had moved away at the Ferrari of Leclerc. And Red Bull was already looking for the lost time.

This time no Suzuka effect with the defending champion

Once again, Verstappen’s car was rebuilt before the co-excretion. In Japan, the Dutch also had the pole, especially thanks to his outstanding skills. Would it work again?

When trying the first quick round in the first period, this was not indicated. Verstappen did not get the curve at first and radioed: “Something really is wrong with the car.” After that he brakes – that rarely happens to him.

A minute before the end of time, both Red Bulls adorned the end of the classification – Verstappen in the penultimate place, Yuki Tsunoda, who was promoted before Japan, in last place. The round had to sit – did it too. Thirdly he got on easily, Tsunoda also saved himself in the next period that was interrupted.

Esteban Ocon had strayed from the route and had demolished his Haas powerfully. And again Verstappen made it exciting, while both McLaren made it clear to the top ten. Just ninth place for the Dutch.

Verstappen complains: “The brakes are terrible”

Now it came down. But for Verstappen it would not run this time like recently in Suzuka. “The brakes are terrible,” he said again about radio. The consequence: not a good round. Much too far away from the top – almost two seconds. It didn’t get much better on the second attempt either. For this purpose, Piatri, who was in China for the first time in China, delivered to Pole – and also won the race.