Verstappen struggles more than expected in the rain
The Strip circuit, already slippery in dry conditions, became particularly treacherous after the rain that fell between FP3 and Q1. Max showed some uncertainty, especially when it came to tyre management — a decisive factor for the final result. Despite the difficulties, Red Bull still secured a front-row start, keeping Verstappen fully in the fight. But he will need an attacking race from the very first meters if he wants to avoid giving Norris any breathing room.
The four-time world champion commented on his qualifying session: “I didn’t have much grip and in these conditions it’s difficult to be consistent. We struggled to get the tyres up to temperature, but we still did a good job and made the most of the car’s potential. Tomorrow the key will be managing the graining: the hards will be fundamental. If we have the opportunity to win, we’ll take it; otherwise, that’s how it will end.”
It is rare to see Verstappen facing this level of difficulty in such conditions, but it is clear that the Las Vegas circuit is unique in terms of temperatures and grip. Even a rain master like the Dutchman can run into problems here, making him appear almost human in such unusual scenarios. Victory remains within reach, and the behaviour of the slick tyres will be an unknown for everyone. As Max indicated, the hard compounds will be decisive.
Tsunoda penalized by a Red Bull error
On the other side of the garage, Yuki Tsunoda’s qualifying ended with a disappointing nineteenth place, the result of a session affected by a technical issue. The Japanese driver had no grip from the first minutes, with the RB21 sliding as though it were on ice and unable to find any traction. A sensation that Tsunoda immediately described as abnormal and far removed from the encouraging feeling he had during practice.
The driver explained his difficult session: “I had no grip for the entire session, the tyres didn’t seem to work and I was several seconds slower than everyone else. Something was wrong, and the feeling confirmed it. Then we discovered that the pressures were completely out of range, and that explains everything. It’s a shame because until qualifying we had shown excellent pace. Tomorrow I’ll try to recover.”
Mekies: “The RB21 has the potential to fight”
Team principal Laurent Mekies analysed the performance of his drivers: “Max delivered a very solid qualifying in extremely difficult conditions, building rhythm already in Q1 and Q2 and staying competitive on Intermediates in Q3. The front row confirms the potential of the car, even if we missed out on pole. Tomorrow we will still have the margin to fight.”
Laurent Mekies also addressed Tsunoda’s situation: “With Yuki, the responsibility is ours: a mistake in the tyre pressures put him on track with a setup that didn’t allow him to be competitive. We are disappointed because he had shown great pace all weekend. We must learn from this episode and come back stronger.”
Red Bull therefore faces a complex but not hopeless scenario. Verstappen must attack Norris to delay his title surrender, aware that a victory is practically essential. Yuki Tsunoda, starting from the very back, will try to turn a difficult day into a recovery race. In Las Vegas, where anything can happen, the night may still hold some surprises.
Leave a Reply