Welcome at RacingNews365

Become part of the largest racing community in the United Kingdom. Create your free account now!

  • Share your thoughts and opinions about F1
  • Win fantastic prizes
  • Get access to our premium content
  • Take advantage of more exclusive benefits
Sign in

Max Verstappen rues critical Red Bull issue after huge qualifying gap

Max Verstappen will start the season-opening Australian Grand Prix from third on the grid.

Max Verstappen has detailed a crucial area that Red Bull failed to get on top of during qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix. Verstappen ended the session in third place as McLaren locked out the front row with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The McLaren drivers boasted a large gap to Verstappen, as the Red Bull competitor was left four-tenths of a second down on pole-sitter Norris. Verstappen struggled to keep his tyre temperatures under control throughout the day - an issue that cost him time during qualifying.  “It was quite tough in qualifying - I don’t know how the others felt about it,” he said. “For me, it never felt like we nailed that bit.” However, Verstappen is adamant he did not have enough pace in any setting to best McLaren. “But at the other end, I think the gap was quite big to them, so it wouldn’t have mattered in terms of position.” Rain is forecast for the grand prix on Sunday, which could play into Verstappen's hands given his historical prowess in wet conditions. When asked if he would prefer wet or dry conditions for the race, Verstappen stated: “It’s fine, dry or wet.  “In the wet, there are always some crazy things that can happen, especially around here, it can be quite slippery. But it’s the same for everyone.

Never miss a thing from the Formula 1 season! Add the 2026 F1 schedule to your calendar at the touch of a button. Subscribe below and put the dates and times of every race directly on your PC or smartphone, so you don't miss a second from the new season.

Download the F1 calendar Download the F1 calendar

A variant with just the race and qualifying is also available.
Click here to download it..

F1 calendar 2026
Race Date
jpn Japanese GP 29 Mar 2026
usa Miami GP 03 May 2026
can Canadian GP 24 May 2026
mco Monaco GP 07 Jun 2026
esp Barcelona GP 14 Jun 2026
aut Austrian GP 28 Jun 2026
Full calendar
x
LATEST Charles Leclerc exposes George Russell trick after Ferrari instruction