Max Verstappen was satisfied with second on the grid after struggling in the final part of a very wet qualifying for the Styrian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman is known for his skills in the rain but, despite matching Lewis Hamilton in Q1 and Q2, would finish 1.2s behind the world champion in Q3.
“I think overall quali was good. Just Q1 was so busy," Verstappen said afterwards.
“You couldn’t see a thing. You always had to leave a bit of space so you could do a lap. In the whole of Q1, I didn’t have a free lap, but still it was alright and also the track wasn’t too bad to drive on.
"With these cars, with these big tyres as well, it’s incredible, you can’t see a thing when you are within six seconds of the car ahead of you.
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“But yeah it was all going well, the same in Q2 actually, I think it was all pretty good, but Q3 was very difficult, for me at least just a lot of standing water.
"I lost quite a lot of grip and it didn’t feel as good as Q1 or Q2 but still of course to be second is alright.”
Verstappen may have been on course for a faster lap in the closing seconds but spun the car between Turns 9 and 10 after coming up on Sebastian Vettel entering the pitlane in his Ferrari.
Max was giving it EVERYTHING in Q3!#AustrianGP 🇦🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/FtAsDJtPuY
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 11, 2020
“I guess it was Seb going into the pits, you can’t see even the colour of the car," he admitted.
"I understeered because of it and then went a bit wide onto the kerb on the exit and I lost it and had a four-wheel drift into the last corner but anyway it was not good enough of a lap to beat Lewis.”
