F1 | Red Bull, Verstappen disappointed: “We expected a different qualifying”

Fifth and sixth positions for Max Verstappen and Alex Albon in qualifying for the Japanese GP, the seventeenth round of this 2019 Formula 1 world championship. After the good performances shown in Friday's free practice, especially in the first sector of the Suzuka circuit, the Red standard-bearers Bull suffered from the track conditions (little grip due to yesterday's rain and a lot of wind), an aspect that penalized the RB15 in the direct comparison with the SF90 and the W10. A difficult morning, completely unexpected, which did not allow the Austrian team to exploit the car's potential to the maximum.

“Qualifying wasn't great and P5 wasn't what we were hoping for, so I'm happy to run the race straight away to try and get a good result,” said Max Verstappen at the end of qualifying. “I had a problem with energy in Q2, but it was immediately resolved for the last qualifying heat. I think we weren't aggressive enough, given that we race with a lot of load and suffer on the straights. Furthermore, it is very windy, especially on the main straight and in the third sector. In the end, however, it is the same for everyone, which is why there is nothing to complain about. I'm a little disappointed, but I have faith in the race. We can get a better result."

Here are Alex Albon's assessments: “It was a clean qualifying, so I'm happy. I don't know where the times of the first four cars came from, but it seems that Ferrari and Mercedes have taken a step forward since Friday's practice. In any case I am happy, at least on a personal level. Losing yesterday was a nightmare and today the wind doesn't make for ideal riding. The car is completely different, since every lap we find a new condition, but in the end it is the same for everyone. We have to adapt and do our best."