Max Verstappen off the pace with ‘undriveable' car in qualifying for Red Bull home race
SPIELBERG, Austria (AP) — Max Verstappen felt his Red Bull car was 'undriveable' as he found himself off the pace at his Formula 1 team's home race.
A lack of grip and an unfortunately timed yellow flag both played a role as Verstappen placed seventh in qualifying at the Red Bull Ring, where he's won five times, to further dent his hopes of defending the F1 title.
A frustrating day for Verstappen and the wider Red Bull team came amid widespread
speculation over his future
after Mercedes driver George Russell indicated on Thursday he believed Verstappen was in talks about a move.
'The car is completely undriveable. I have no grip,' Verstappen told the team over the radio part way through Saturday qualifying. Things got worse later on as he had to back off his final lap of the session because of a yellow flag.
Speaking to British broadcaster Sky Sports after the session, Verstappen indicated he believed his car was 'miles off pole' set by McLaren's Lando Norris, even without the yellow flag.
'Hopefully tomorrow we can at least be competitive with Ferrari or Mercedes,' Verstappen said. 'I don't know even, because with the balance we had in quali that's for sure not going to look great for tomorrow, but we will analyze everything.'
Verstappen's teammate Yuki Tsunoda was even less competitive as he qualified 18th and complained he, too, was lacking grip.
Norris said he and McLaren expected Red Bull 'to be quicker here this weekend' after both teams brought upgraded parts to Austria, but said he wouldn't write off Verstappen. Piastri leads Norris by 22 points in the standings with Verstappen third, 21 points further back.
'Max has been our main contender for every race this season,' Norris said. 'Just because he's had a slightly worse qualifying today, definitely not going to count him out of of the race tomorrow and definitely not going to count him out for the rest of the season.'
___
AP auto racing:
https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Guardiola ‘understands' Klopp's Club World Cup criticisms, trying not to worry about possible ‘disaster' season
Pep Guardiola says he understands Jurgen Klopp's criticisms of the Club World Cup but is trying not to think of how the shorter break could potentially 'destroy' his team next season. Former Liverpool manager Klopp, who is now Red Bull's head of global soccer, was speaking about player care and development this week when he called it a 'pointless' tournament and the 'worst idea ever implemented in football'. Advertisement Klopp's comments came despite Red Bull Salzburg being part of the competition before their elimination in the group stage. 'Listen, I fought a lot with Jurgen many, many times. I know where his idea comes from,' said Guardiola. 'We fought a lot in England, and also when we went to the UEFA meetings, and especially when we discussed the Premier League calendar, and how to add more quality to it. (We discussed) giving the managers and players more rest, because that's how you add more quality. 'So his comments (on the Club World Cup) didn't surprise me a lot. I understand him. I respect him. I've had an incredible relationship with Jurgen for many years as rivals. Now he's stepped back from that position [as a manager] and I understand his argument, because I would defend his argument as well. 'At the same time, as managers we are in a job. We follow the FIFA, UEFA, Premier League or Serie A rules. As managers, we don't organise the competitions. Once we are here, we are proud.' Guardiola was Klopp's rival was eight years in England but believes some critics of the tournament would think differently if they were competing in the United States. 'Many, many teams complain about these competitions because they are not here, otherwise they might love being here,' he said. 'They would have their media and supporters here, and there would be income to be here, and they would be happy to be here. 'Of course, it's not an ideal situation for the manager. Would I love to have two months to prepare for next season? Yes. Would I love to be refreshed for next season? Yes. 'But it is what it is. And we deserve what we have done in the past to be here. Once we are here, let's do our best possible.' England manager Thomas Tuchel stated that he believes Liverpool and Arsenal will have a 'huge advantage' over Man City and Chelsea because they do not have these additional games to handle. Advertisement Despite his enthusiasm for the newly-expanded competition, Guardiola is aware that the work load could have a delayed impact on his players. 'I try not to think about it otherwise I would get too anxious,' he said. 'Instead, I try to relax, enjoy the days here and the good vibes that we have, the competition and we try to win it. 'After this, let's see what happens. Let's see what happens after the final, we can rest and take the time that the Premier League has allowed us to rest and then we will see. 'Maybe in November, December or January it will be a disaster, we are exhausted and the World Cup has destroyed us. I don't know but it's the first time in our lives that this has happened. 'Mentally I think in the past the players have played in World Cups or European Championships for their national teams so it happens sometimes. You need a rest mentally sometimes, you can recover and then we will see when we come back.' Photo: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Man City's Guardiola 'understands' Klopp Club World Cup critique
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said he understands former Liverpool rival Jurgen Klopp's complaint about the Club World Cup (PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA) Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said Sunday he can see Jurgen Klopp's point after the former Liverpool coach labelled the Club World Cup "the worst idea ever implemented in football". However the Catalan also said he wants his team to win FIFA's heavily criticised newly expanded competition this summer in the United States, noting many of the complaints have come from teams which did not reach the tournament. Advertisement Klopp, currently Red Bull's "head of global soccer", told German newspaper Welt am Sonntag the crowded calendar meant there was no time for players to recover mentally or physically and he had serious concern over possible injuries. "Jurgen -- we fought together many, many times, I know where the idea comes from, we fought a lot in England, when we went to UEFA meetings, especially on the Premier League, (about) the calendar, to try to (increase the) quality," Guardiola told reporters. "So the players rest, and the managers rest, (then) you have more quality, so it didn't surprise me, I understand him, I respect him. "I have an incredible relationship with Jurgen, when we were rivals... I understand his argument, because his argument I would defend as well." Advertisement Guardiola's side are in the last 16 of the competition and face Saudi Arabian team Al-Hilal on Monday in Orlando. The coach said despite the criticism the tournament has received, he is "proud" to be competing to win it. "At the same time we're in a job, we follow FIFA, UEFA, Premier League, Serie A... the managers are not going to organise the competitions, everyone has their own role, they organise the competitions," continued Guardiola. "I have said many times, I am so proud to be here, because in the end many, many teams complain about the competitions, because they are not here, otherwise they would love maybe to be there. Advertisement "Their media will be here, their supporters will be here, there will be their income in terms of money to be here, and they will be happy to be there." Man City have won six of the last eight Premier League titles with Liverpool claiming the other two, including last season. England coach Thomas Tuchel said Arne Slot's Reds and Arsenal have an advantage on City for the upcoming campaign because they are resting during the summer. "I try to not think about it, otherwise I will be so anxious," added Guardiola. "So I try to be relaxed, to enjoy the days here, the good vibes that we have, the competition, to try to win it." rbs/rcw
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Potgieter wins a playoff in Detroit for first PGA Tour win. Harrington wins another Senior Open
DETROIT (AP) — Aldrich Potgieter made an 18-foot birdie putt on the fifth playoff hole, outlasting Max Greyserman to win the Rocket Classic on Sunday for his first PGA Tour title. The 20-year-old from South Africa is the youngest player on the tour and its biggest hitter. He became the ninth player to win for the first time this season. Chris Kirk, who closed with a 5-under 67, missed a 9-foot putt for the win on the first playoff hole and was eliminated on the second extra hole when he missed a 4-foot par putt. Greyserman missed a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole in regulation, missing his chance to win and closing with a 67. Potgieter, who started with a two-shot lead, shot 69 to join Kirk at 22-under 266. Michael Thorbjornsen (67) and Jake Knapp (68) finished a stroke out of the playoff. USGA and PGA Tour Champions COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Padraig Harrington came out on top of a major championship that felt more like match play, closing his round with seven straight pars at the U.S. Senior Open for a 3-under 67 to beat Stewart Cink by one shot. Playing alongside Cink for the fourth straight day, Harrington finished at 11-under 269 on the tricky, heavily sloping Broadmoor. The Irishman sealed this match by hitting his approach to 8 feet on No. 18, putting pressure on Cink, who trailed by one but sat 30 yards in front of him on the fairway. Cink's approach landed on the precipice of a ledge, but spun back to 35 feet away to set up a two-putt. Harrington took two putts for the win, his second U.S. Senior Open title in four years that gets him in the U.S. Open next year at Shinnecock Hills. LIV Golf League CARROLLTON, Texas (AP) — Patrick Reed lost the lead with a 3-over 75 and then atoned for it by making a 15-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a four-man playoff to win LIV Golf Dallas, his first title since joining the Saudi-funded league in 2022. Reed, who started the final round with a three-shot lead, fell behind late in the day at Maridoe Golf Club until Jinichiro Kozuma made bogey on the 18th hole and then made par on his final hole at No. 1 for a 68. That got him into a playoff with Reed, Louis Oosthuizen (68) and Paul Casey (72). On the first extra hole, Oosthuizen drove into the water and Casey took four shots to reach the green on the par-4 18th. Kozuma missed his 25-foot birdie try, setting the stage for Reed. Jon Rahm finished out of the top 10 for the first time in LIV, while Sergio Garcia claimed the one LIV spot for the British Open. LPGA Tour MIDLAND, Mich. (AP) — Somi Lee poured in an 8-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to team with fellow South Korean Jin Hee Im to win the Dow Championship, denying Lexi Thompson her first LPGA title in six years. Thompson's partner, Megan Khang, had a chance to extend the playoff, but she missed a 5-foot birdie putt that was on the low side of the hole from the start. The final round was fourballs, but switched to foursomes for the playoff. Thompson made an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-3 18th hole for the American duo to finish with a 10-under 60 in fourballs. They were the first to post at 20-under 260. Lee made a 10-foot birdie putt to tie for the lead on the 17th. They shot 62. European Tour TUSCANY, Italy (AP) — Adrien Saddier claimed his first European tour title in his 200th start with a back-nine charge in the Italian Open, closing with a 4-under 66 for a two-shot victory over Martin Couvra. Couvra, the 54-hole leader, closed with a 69 and appeared headed for victory until Saddier had five birdies over the final seven holes at the Argentario Golf Club on the Tuscan coast. Saddier and Couvra earned places in the British Open field at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland next month. Calum Hill of Scotland and Dan Bradbury of England finished tied for third, four strokes behind. Korn Ferry Tour SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Austin Smotherman holed out for eagle to take the lead for the first time and closed with an 8-under 63 for a one-shot victory over Alvaro Ortiz in the Memorial Health Championship. It was the second Korn Ferry Tour victory this year for Smotherman, who moved to No. 1 on the points list and is virtually certain of returning to the PGA Tour next year. Ortiz began had a four-shot lead going into the final round and his lead was down to one when he bogeyed the 11th hole. Smotherman followed by holing out for eagle on the 408-yard 12th hole. Both player made birdie on the par 5s coming in and Smotherman held on for the win. Sandy Scott shot 60, with pars on the last two holes, to tie for third. Other tours Jillian Hollis rallied from a three-shot deficit with a 4-under 68 and a one-shot victory over Kelli Ann Strand in the Otter Creek Championship on the Epson Tour. ...Tatsunori Shogenji closed with a 6-under 65 for a one-shot victory over Ryuichi Oiwa (62) in the Japan Players Championship, his second Japan Golf Tour victory this year. ... Shannon Tan of Singapore captured her second Ladies European Tour title with a 5-under 68 and a one-shot victory over Helen Briem of Germany in the Amundi German Masters. ... David Horsey birdied the final hole for a 3-under 69, and then made birdie again to win a four-man playoff against James Allan, Joseba Torres and Daniel Young in Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge in France. ... Shuri Sakuma closed with a 2-under 70 and won the Earth Mondahmin Cup by one shot over Nana Suganuma on the Japan LPGA. ... Jiu Ko closed with a 5-under 67 to hold off Hyungjo Yoo (62) for a two-shot victory in the McCol-Mona Youngpyong Open on the Korea LPGA.
