Norris Pole: Austrian GP – McLaren Driver Revitalized
- Max Verstappen of Red Bull, currently third in the championship standings and trailing Norris by 21 points, had a disappointing qualifying session, landing in seventh place.
- Verstappen said the Red Bull team was surprised by the car's lack of grip.
- He added, "I didn't expect it to be this bad in qualifying, but I think no one did in the team.
Max Verstappen‘s qualifying woes at the Austrian Grand Prix shake up the grid! The Red Bull driver, facing unexpected balance issues, surprisingly qualified in seventh place. McLaren’s Lando Norris,however,remains wary,knowing Verstappen’s potential. Despite the setback,engineers are already at work,analyzing data to address handling issues. news Directory 3 keeps you ahead of the race, bringing you the latest updates.Could this be a turning point in the championship, or will Verstappen’s race-day performance defy expectations? Discover what’s next as the teams gear up for an action-packed race.
Verstappen’s Qualifying Struggles: Norris Remains Wary
Updated June 29, 2025
Max Verstappen of Red Bull, currently third in the championship standings and trailing Norris by 21 points, had a disappointing qualifying session, landing in seventh place. His final lap was disrupted when Pierre Gasly spun his Alpine. Even before that incident, Verstappen’s best time on his initial lap was only good enough for sixth.
Verstappen said the Red Bull team was surprised by the car’s lack of grip. “In qualifying basically everything felt bad,” Verstappen said. “Every corner was a struggle, I just didn’t have the balance. It was either understeer or oversteer…that’s not ideal.”
He added, “I didn’t expect it to be this bad in qualifying, but I think no one did in the team. So, that’s something that we have to analyze.” The team now faces the challenge of diagnosing and addressing the unexpected handling issues before the race.
Despite Verstappen’s setback, McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are not counting him out. They anticipate that the Red Bull driver will still be a force to be reckoned with during the race.
“Until he’s out of the race, I don’t think we’re ever going to take Max out of the equation,” Norris said.
What’s next
Red Bull engineers will analyze data to determine the cause of Verstappen’s qualifying struggles. The team hopes to improve the car’s setup before the race to allow Verstappen to challenge the McLaren drivers and improve his championship role.