Helmut Marko pinpoints reason behind Max Verstappen missing out on pole position during Canada qualifying

Max Verstappen and George Russell charted identical lap time on their best Q3 run.

Helmut Marko pinpoints reason behind Max Verstappen missing out on pole position during Canada qualifying

Max Verstappen, Helmut Marko, and Christian Horner (Via: Imago)

Red Bull advisor, Helmut Marko has pinpointed the reason behind the inability of Max Verstappen to take pole position in Montreal qualifying. Verstappen managed to set a time exactly identical to that of George Russell of Mercedes; however, the Brit took the pole position, having set the time first.

Red Bull’s woes in practice continued during the Canadian Grand Prix FP1 and FP2 sessions, where the RB20 struggled to find grip around the corners due to the wet weather conditions. Max Verstappen reported a problem with his ERS system, which cost him significant pace around the racetrack.

YouTube video

Helmut Marko claimed that the warming up of the tires during Q3 was too quick for Red Bull, which hindered their grip initially during the final session. Marko asserted said that Verstappen lost most of his pace around the final sector to George Russell.

FS Video
I think we can be satisfied with this result, especially after the events in the second free practice. It was about how you warm up your tyres and I think the warm-up lap in Q3 was just too fast. Max lost pole position in the third sector against Russell. But we showed that we improved gradually, unlike Monaco.
Helmut Marko via Sky Germany

Verstappen has been on pole for seven out of a possible nine races this season and has won five of them. He will now look to increase his lead at the top of the chart as he sits on the front row in Montreal, looking to get back to winning ways.

Sergio Perez gets knocked out of qualifying in Q1

Sergio Perez‘s 2024 woes continued as the Mexican driver failed to make it out of Q1 during the Canadian GP qualifying. Perez has failed to make it to Q3 for the third race in a row this season.

Sergio Perez
Sergio Perez (via IMAGO)
It was a total disaster. I just couldn’t get the grip in. I think it was a very strange session for a lot of cars out there, and for us, I just couldn’t get the tyres to switch on. It was taking a while to really switch on the tyre, and that was a total disaster.
Sergio Perez said after qualifying in Montreal

Sergio Perez signed a new contract with Red Bull earlier this week, he was keen to perform this weekend as a show of appreciation for the trust vested in him by the team. But the 34-year-old driver failed to deliver in the qualifying session.

The 34-year-old has been in lackluster form for the Milton-Keynes outfit ever since the past season but has shown signs of brilliance toward the earlier part of 2024. But the Mexican driver now finds himself starting P16 for the upcoming race where he will try everything in his power to attain the best possible result. Several eyes will be glued on Perez’s exploits in the 70-lap race.

In case you missed it: