Verstappen judges 'too soft tyres' and asks for realism ahead of McLaren battle

18:42, 17 May

byNorberto Mujica

Max Verstappen deliberately avoided the medium tyre in Imola. According to the Dutchman, it's more important to focus on the Grand Prix, since pole positions haven't always translated into wins for him this year.

"Yes, we're just overheating our tyres too much. On the C6 (the softest tyre), that's an even bigger problem. That holds us back a bit," Verstappen began with Viaplay. According to Verstappen, the soft tyre in Imola was just too soft, but Red Bull didn't switch to the mediums.

"We also have to think about tomorrow. It's nice to be on pole, but the last few times I've been on pole, it hasn't done me much good. We need to ensure we run the best race tomorrow."

How Verstappen Reflected on His Qualifying

Verstappen further reflected on his qualifying: "Many red flags, a lot of waiting, but overall pretty good. The car was a lot better today. We could attack the corners much better, so in that area, it was positive."

Verstappen starts the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in the front row alongside Oscar Piastri, but the Dutchman didn't want to think too much about it. "We're going to do our best. I'm not worried about it. You always have to try to have a good start and then just see how things go. We know they are very strong in the race, so we have to be realistic."