Verstappen: I'll try to get as many points as I can

It was a messy qualifying for Verstappen, who had to abort flying laps several times, progressing into Q3 under pressure and ultimately failing to launch a challenge for a front row start, let alone pole.

Verstappen has been vocal about the brakes on his car and said after qualifying: "All weekend it has been difficult, just struggling on brake feel and stopping power basically. Besides that just also just very difficult grip.

"Now, I feel that maybe the tyre grip that we are getting out of the car and that's why also set-up wise we have thrown the car around a lot and nothing really seems to give you a clear direction.

"So I guess that also shows we are struggling also with other things," the Dutchman maintained.

Verstappen saved a set of Hard tyres for Sunday's race but is not sure how they will behave as he faces an uphill task to score points.

"I have no idea how they [the hard tyres] will perform," he added. "I think it will be quite high deg but also on the hard tyre you have quite low mechanical grip so naturally you will slide a bit more and I have no idea how that will work out. But at least it's an option to have and then we'll see what happens with it.

"I don't know. I just try to do my best," the four-time Formula 1 champion responded when asked about his expectation for the race. "It's been a difficult weekend for us.

"Tomorrow I'll try to get as many points as I can - I mean I do that every single weekend, so it's not like it's any difference tomorrow - but I have no idea where we will be in terms of race pace.

"We'll be in the middle of the pack so hopefully a bit of excitement," concluded Verstappen.

It was an even tougher qualifying for Yuki Tsunoda in the sister car, but the Japanese driver managed to make Q3, the first time an RB21 not carrying the #1 makes the top ten shootout in 2025.

Tsunoda, who struggled all weekend, was satisfied after reaching Q3 despite being almost one second off the pace of Verstappen; he commented: "I’ll take it.

"Obviously, as a driver you want more, but considering what I had in practice, and it’s only my second race, I’ll still take it.

"It’s just difficult. It’s not easy being in the window which this car operates, which is quite narrow," the Japanese driver lamented. "I’m trying lots of things to be in that window consistently.

"It’s natural that I’ll be up and down, which I had in free practice. I just won’t rush it, and progress step by step," he insisted.

Tsunoda was wary of his playing up his chancing during the grand prix on Sunday; he continued: "Long run in P2 was not good but at the same time, the car is different as well.

"Also, the run I had then was not really amazing for myself, so just have to tune it slightly more as a driver and also the car, to drive fast.

"But I have ok confidence, not great, ok confidence," Tsunoda concluded.

(Quotes from Sky Sports F1)