Max Verstappen fumes after qualifying failure
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Published 13/04/2019 at 11:56 GMT
Max Verstappen was left to rue a costly mistake that meant he finished lower than hoped during qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Image credit: Getty Images
The Red Bull driver had looked set to qualify on the second row, but a misjudgement meant Sebastian Vettel nipped in ahead of him.
The error was costly as Verstappen couldn't start the final lap after being overtaken before the chequered flag fell.
Verstappen took his frustration out by swearing on the team radio:
Ah mate, f*****g hell. I'm finished right? They are such w*****s honestly. Everybody just lining up and they are just f*****g it up. You're just trying to be nice but everybody's just f*****g it up.
But Verstappen wasn't alone as Haas were also hit by the same problem with Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean also getting caught out.
Speaking after qualifying, Verstappen said: “I was just trying to follow the Ferrari in front of me and trying to be nice.
I could also have overtaken him but it’s just not what you do in qualifying.
"This time it caught me out. So of course I’m not happy about that but it will swing around and it will come back to others as well sometimes.”
Red Bull chief Christian Horner was unable to conceal his disappointment, as he said: "Max was in a good position and then Sebastian passed him around the outside and then he hung back not to get into Sebastian’s dirty air and the Renaults passed him and he hung back again.
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Red Bull chief Christian Horner witnessed a disappointing qualifying session for his team
Image credit: Getty Images
"Unfortunately, the clock ticking down the way it was, he didn’t make it to the line in time.
"It was a shame because it would have been a good opportunity to try and improve there. I think we could have made the second row today."
Vettel and Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc finished in third and fourth respectively.
Mercedes once again were dominant and it was a one two with Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton at the top of the grid.
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