Max Verstappen’s Qualifying Setback: Red Bull Star Reveals Massive Downforce Loss After Damage at Silverstone

Max Verstappen discloses significant downforce reduction after 'tearing the floor to pieces'

Max Verstappen details the full impact of the damage to his Red Bull car after an incident during qualifying.

Max Verstappen claims that damage to the floor of his Red Bull car during the qualifying session for the F1 British Grand Prix caused him to lose up to 100 points of downforce.

The current world champion secured the fourth spot in a mixed wet and dry qualifying session at Silverstone. British drivers dominated the top three, with George Russell securing pole position ahead of his Mercedes teammate, Lewis Hamilton.

Max Verstappen couldn't compete for pole position after his RB20's floor was damaged when he went off track into the gravel at Copse during Q1 as the rain began.

When questioned about the amount of downforce he lost, Verstappen responded, "At first, it was 100 points, which is significant. Very significant! We managed to reduce it somewhat. But it remains substantial."

Verstappen stated that his Red Bull's floor was severely damaged.

“It was simply a case of bad luck,” the Dutch driver remarked. “As I exited Turn 7 and drove towards Copse, the rain began to fall.

“I realized that the drivers ahead of me weren’t dealing with the rain, and they were using slick tires. I understood that in Q1, we had to complete a lap with the slicks because you can never predict if the rain will intensify and end the session.”

"Of course, I attempted to maintain my speed. Even though I reduced my pace due to the rain on my visor, I still lost control. I then had to make sure I didn't crash into the wall by steering off the main path."

"However, I was forced to drive over the gravel, which severely damaged the car's floor and caused me to miss several components. Despite this, I believe the team did an excellent job attempting to retrieve some of the parts and tried to improve the front-to-rear balance."

"Indeed, it essentially wrecked our chances in the qualifying session. Given the damage we sustained, I was pleased just to make it into Q3. Securing the fourth position was, in fact, a pleasant and unexpected bonus."

Verstappen announced that Red Bull has an extra new floor for his car to use in Sunday’s grand prix, where he aims to compete for the win.

He expressed his desire for an exhilarating race, stating, "At this point, we're likely to be more aggressive, rather than beginning in the top positions, but that's perfectly okay."

"The individuals I am surrounded by seem to maintain a consistent speed. I believe McLaren tends to be quite fast during races and manages their tires well. Nonetheless, I am optimistic that we can compete with them and pose a challenge."

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