Based on free practice, they didn’t necessarily look like favourites, but Max Verstappen and Red Bull took the lead in the Abu Dhabi time trial. Charles Leclerc set the second fastest lap, and Oscar Piastri completed the last time trial of the 2023 season in third place – let’s see how all three rated them after the wave!
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1st place
“This weekend is very strange. We struggled all the way so far, and then we got ahead in the time trial. The car improved and everything came together. I can press the gas more courageously. I’m happy to get pole. Already on the first lap I felt that The car was better. A lot depends on the tires here. We always slip a little, which can lose a lot of time. This happened to us in free practice, but now things are better. I have no idea what we will be like in the race. We usually do a Good. Our year was very special. We really enjoyed it and are proud of the results.
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 2nd place
“If you look at the weekend we’ve had so far, I didn’t expect this at all. I knew I had to do everything perfectly on the last lap and I knew I slid in the last corner. But really, at that point, everyone was sliding.” “In the first and second parts of the race, I was worried about whether I would make it at all, so compared to that, it’s great to be on the front row. For some reason, I did a good lap on the used tires, but I closed it at the back. When we With the new tires fitted, the car came back to life and had a really good lap. I’m happy with the front row, it must have been a big surprise. I hope the race goes well. The goal is to beat Mercedes in the constructors’ battle. I hope Carlos (Sainz) will start “So well and to have him in the fight. Let’s get that second place! That’s all that matters this weekend.”
Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – third place
“It was a tough experience. The results have been tight all weekend so far. The timer was not clear, there were mistakes, for example, I made a mistake on the last lap, in the last corner. If it had not been there, I could have closed at the same time.” Previous. But the car is fast on the weekend, which is definitely a good turnaround after Vegas. I’m happy to be here in the top three. The pace was already there in free practice, but there were mistakes. The timing was better, even though I didn’t With a clean lap. The first quarter didn’t go well, the second quarter had to be put together as well, and the third quarter was very good. It was tight, but I couldn’t close it first. I have no idea what the race pace will be like, but everyone is in “Same situation in that regard. We were able to do four or five laps in a row. I wonder what the race will be like.”
