The Spanish GP is a special race for Max Verstappen. The 2 time F1 world champion’s journey to success began from this very track. Back in 2016, a Red Bull seat swap led to a young 18 year old given the responsibility of driving in the main team. He surely didn’t disappoint as he won his maiden race with Red Bull at Barcelona in 2016. Fast forward to 2023, he has taken his first pole position here.
The 2023 Spanish GP qualifying session left many questioning as to what went wrong. With Max on pole, his teammate Sergio Perez got knocked out of Q2. On the other hand, while Spanish home hero Carlos Sainz starts on the front row, Charles Leclerc will be starting at the back. Such is the condition as of now which will have a huge impact in determining the results of the grand prix.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff stated that the team had the pace to put one of their cars at the front row alongside Max Verstappen. However, it’s still clear that even if the team has changed their side-pod design, they aren’t at the pace level of the Red Bulls yet. Wolff admitted that he still doesn’t know how much of an advantage Red Bull has on them.
Toto Wolff is is pissed off to admit Max Verstappen is on another level
In an interview, here is what the Austrian had to say. “I think Verstappen is just on a different level. It pisses me off to say that but that is the reality,” he said. “There is a meritocracy, they’ve just done the best job, the driver’s driving excellent and they are just far away. And that is something which only we have in our hands to get under control,” he continued.
Ever since Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton lost out to Max Verstappen in the 2021 World driver’s championship, they have been playing a game of catch up with Red Bull and Max Verstappen. With Lewis Hamilton still in the top 5, there is a chance that he could fight for the win. That seems unlikely right now but anything can happen in this sport.
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