The Suzuka race weekend didn’t go as expected. During the second practice session, it started to rain, so teams couldn’t do their usual qualifying practice. Instead, they focused on collecting data for long runs during the third practice session on Saturday.
In those long runs, Max Verstappen was a bit slower than his teammate Sergio Perez and also behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Verstappen managed to secure pole position in qualifying, but Leclerc only came in eighth.
When asked about Ferrari’s performance, Verstappen said he couldn’t be sure why they weren’t as fast in qualifying. However, he noted that Ferrari seemed competitive in the long run. He mentioned making changes to his car setup after the practice session to improve for the race.
Verstappen also mentioned that McLaren looked competitive for the race. He admitted to having some difficulties with his car’s balance during the long runs in practice, which made him feel less comfortable compared to previous races.
Verstappen expressed concern about Ferrari’s performance, especially during long runs. He said they looked strong and that there were question marks about how they would perform in the race.
On the other hand, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz explained that Ferrari’s long-run performance might seem better because they run lighter during practice sessions. He suggested that Ferrari might not show their full speed until the race.
While Verstappen secured pole position, there were uncertainties about Ferrari’s performance in the race. Both Verstappen and Sainz acknowledged that Ferrari’s strength during long runs could impact the race outcome.
