Max Verstappen blames ‘too much understeer’ for disappointing P6 in Baku qualifying

Max Verstappen has now failed to qualify in the top three for the second race in a row.

Max Verstappen blames ‘too much understeer’ for disappointing P6 in Baku qualifying

Helmut Marko, Max Verstappen and Christian Horner (via IMAGO)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen once again failed to qualify on the front row after a disappointing afternoon in Baku. Verstappen will now start P6 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix for the Milton-Keynes-based team.

Max Verstappen‘s form has been on an unexplainable decline over the past few races of the season. Despite leading the drivers’ championship with a lead of 62 points, the Dutchman has been winless in the last six races of the campaign.

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Verstappen faced issues with the steering of the RB20 on Saturday, which was the case during the practice sessions as well. He has claimed that his car underwent too much understeer, which caused him major hindrances in finding good lap times.

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I knew after the first run in Q1 that it would be difficult. We changed a couple of things on the car and that made it difficult. Lots of bouncing in the back, going in and out of turns. Q2 went okay, but for me in the car it didn't feel good. I couldn't optimize in the middle of the turns, always a bit too much understeer. You don't want that on a street circuit.
Max Verstappen said after the qualifying on Saturday

The 26-year-old is now left to pick up the pieces for his team at the 51-lap Azerbaijan GP. Verstappen’s result in Baku will be a major determining factor as to whether or not he secures the 2024 driver’s world championship.

Max Verstappen blames last moment changes for dismal qualifying in Baku

Red Bull made some subtle change to the setup of the RB20 in order to notch better results ahead of qualifying on Saturday. Max Verstappen, however, failed to perform and struggled majorly on track after the changes.

Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)
We made some changes going into qualifying that make it difficult to drive and not so connected with the tarmac.
Max Verstappen said after the qualifying at Baku on Saturday

Verstappen claimed that the RB20 was not very responsive, which made it feel a bit disconnected from the tarmac. He has urged his team to make the necessary improvements to make his car more drivable for the race.

The Milton-Keynes-based team’s poor outcome in qualifying will greatly affect their chances in the race. The will now seek to battle out their key competitors to hold on to their narrow advantage in the constructors’ championship.