“Might Actually Have My Prints” – Max Verstappen Jokes about Chair after Finishing P3 for the Ninth Time This Season

The absence of defending F1 champion Lewis Hamilton at the Sakhir GP gave the likes of Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen a chance to claim pole position. Especially for Verstappen, whose work this season has mostly gotten restricted to challenging or splitting the Mercedes’ drivers.

For all of his best efforts and intention, pole position remained out of reach for the Red Bull No.33 on this occasion as well. Such was the pace from Bottas and Russell that he fell short of pole by just 0.05 seconds.

Nevertheless, Max has revealed he knew claiming pole was always going to be difficult at the track. However, he also thinks that P3 is not necessarily a bad position to start the Sakhir Grand Prix in.

Max Verstappen thinks P3 is good for Red Bull on the Sakhir GP track

Speaking in the post-qualifying press conference, Verstappen said, “After that first run I was two-tenths behind, so I knew it was going to be difficult. But you always try to be as close as you can, and at the end, to be within a tenth wasn’t bad.”

In the dying seconds of the Q3 session, the top three drivers all went on a flying lap to improve their timings. After Bottas could not improve on his, Verstappen’s efforts fell just short of crossing the Finn’s earlier timing.

The Dutchman added and said, “But of course, Valtteri didn’t have a tow and didn’t improve on his final lap, so to be P3 is a good for us on a track like this.

“I’m used to sitting in this chair. It might actually have my prints,” concluded Verstappen jokingly.

Verstappen has a good chance to take the lead in the main race

The compressed nature of the outer layout of the circuit with the reduced lap timings could mean a genuine chance for Verstappen. Traffic will become a concern as time passes and this particular surface also encourages overtaking.

Perhaps that is why the prospect of starting P3 in the race does not worry the Red Bull driver. With Russell and Bottas under pressure to get the ideal start, his opening lap will definitely become crucial to his chances of claiming the lead.