At the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Max Verstappen demonstrated remarkable calm amid one of the most chaotic qualifying sessions in recent Formula 1 history, securing the coveted Max Verstappen Baku pole position. The Red Bull driver achieved this feat on a single flying lap during Q3, marking his 46th career pole and his sixth this season, outpacing all other competitors, including the McLaren drivers. Meanwhile, his attention was also drawn to the success of his GT3 racing project in a concurrent event.
Verstappen Triumphs Amid a Record-Breaking Qualifying Session
The 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying was disrupted by a record six red flags, creating an unusually tense and fragmented session. Despite these interruptions, Verstappen remained composed and completed a standout lap at the very end of Q3, demonstrating why he is one of F1’s most consistent qualifiers. His performance not only earned him pole position but reinforced his dominance over the season, consolidating his status as the fastest across the field this year.
Simultaneously, while Verstappen focused on his F1 challenge, Thierry Vermeulen and Chris Lulham, competing under Verstappen’s GT3 team, Verstappen.com Racing, were contesting a GT World Challenge race at Valencia. Piloting a Ferrari 296 GT3 operated by Emil Frey Racing, the pair claimed victory, adding a second layer of success connected to Verstappen’s motorsport ventures.
“I was really pissed that I missed the entire race because F1 qualifying took so long. But when I grabbed my phone after I got out of the car and saw the result, everything was fine again,”
Verstappen admitted with a laugh during a Dutch media roundtable following qualifying.
“It’s really impressive that they managed to win that race. Of course, they still have a lot to learn – you could also see that on Saturday morning during qualifying. We have talked about it afterwards, before they went into the race. But this is a great result for them. And of course, it’s a proud moment for me as well, seeing them win.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Maintaining Focus During Turbulence
Verstappen’s ability to coach his GT3 drivers while navigating a turbulent F1 qualifying session highlights his passion for racing beyond Formula 1. Nevertheless, his primary concentration remained on delivering a qualifying lap amid unpredictable conditions at Baku, a track notorious for its challenges.
“I must say I felt good throughout the whole of qualifying. Many times in Baku I didn’t feel comfortable in the car, because the balance wasn’t right for me. But this time it was different,”
Verstappen reflected on his session.
Coming off momentum gained at Monza, Red Bull arrived in Baku with a refined package that considerably improved the car’s handling, allowing Verstappen to approach corners with greater confidence than in previous attempts. He detailed,
“[The car] feels better now, and that enabled me to attack the corners with more confidence. You can fine-tune things more during a race weekend instead of making all those big changes, and therefore you get much better references going into qualifying.”
The chaotic nature of the session meant no driver found a smooth rhythm, a factor Verstappen turned to his advantage.
“That lap was good. Nobody could get into a proper rhythm, but maybe that was a good thing for me – that suddenly you had to be ready and make it happen.”
His poised approach paid off at the critical juncture.
“You know it’s only one lap, and you know it’s for pole. You also know that the others will go all in, so you have to try something. In the end, it worked out for me.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Challenging Weather Intensifies Qualifying
While Verstappen appeared in control, he acknowledged the significant difficulties presented by Baku’s unpredictable weather and track conditions. He explained that strong, erratic winds greatly affected the car’s stability, making control through corners uncertain.
“The wind was strong and very inconsistent,”
Verstappen described.
“That makes a huge difference with these cars. When you arrive at a certain corner, it’s almost impossible to know what will happen next. Of course, you always leave some margin in places where you know it can be windy – and then I had some raindrops on my visor as well.”
Carlos Sainz, who spoke at the post-qualifying press conference, emphasized the challenge posed by modern ground-effect F1 cars, which are especially sensitive to wind in slow corners. According to the Spaniard, drivers may suddenly lose up to 30 to 35 percent of their downforce in these conditions.
Verstappen concurred, adding more insight into the aerodynamic intricacies:
“Yes, especially with the wind. It’s because these cars are very big and heavy. In all the slow-speed corners, small movements because of the wind can already make a big difference. It’s even more of a factor at this track because there are quite a few spots where it’s very open in between the corners. You feel it a lot around here.”
Setting Sights on Sunday’s Race
After clinching pole, Verstappen also celebrated the GT World Challenge victory tied to his racing project. Nonetheless, his focus quickly shifted to the race day challenges ahead, aware that competitor McLaren remains a strong threat to Red Bull’s dominance.
“The McLarens will come forward, that’s for sure,”
Verstappen stated pragmatically.
“They are still very quick, but we have to focus on ourselves. We’ll just do our own race and see where we end up. My long runs were good, but that’s no guarantee at all for Sunday. We simply don’t know about the others, but in terms of feeling it’s again better this weekend.”
Looking ahead, Verstappen appears ready to tackle the uncertainties of the Baku race, leveraging both his team’s improved car performance and his own proven skill under pressure as the season’s flyaway races continue. With strong rivals closing in, maintaining this edge will be crucial for Verstappen and Red Bull’s championship ambitions.
