Max Verstappen targeting second place as ‘minimum’ in Miami

MIAMI — Max Verstappen is anticipating to complete second in Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix on the minimal, regardless of qualifying ninth on the grid.

Verstappen missed out on a shot at pole place after making a mistake in Flip 7 on his first flying lap in Q3 after which lacking out on a second try on account of a crimson flag on the finish of the session.

And not using a Q3 lap time to his title, he’ll line up ninth on the grid whereas Crimson Bull teammate Sergio Perez begins from pole place.

Requested what end result was doable in Sunday’s race, he responded: “Minimal is P2.”

Verstappen was unable to finish his second try in Q3 as a result of session being suspended by a crimson flag with 96 seconds remaining after Charles Leclerc crashed at Flip 7.

The Ferrari driver’s mistake disadvantaged Verstappen of one other shot on the pole, however he mentioned he nonetheless took the blame for his lowly beginning place.

“Yeah, in fact that [the red flag] is unlucky,” Verstappen mentioned. “However to start with, we did not do a lap and that was my fault. It was extraordinarily difficult.

“I used to be a bit bit off line out of [Turn] 6 and into 7. I felt a little bit of understeer and I simply could not get it again within the line. So I aborted my lap after which in fact you want a little bit of luck, in fact hoping that there will not be a crimson flag.

“In fact, once you attempt to suppose like that, then it occurs. It’s kind of upsetting. The entire weekend now we have been fairly fast, my Q2 lap was quick sufficient for pole in Q3.

“I suppose that claims that now we have a fast automobile however it’s worthwhile to put it collectively, and when it issues, we did not. That is a bit irritating from my half.”