Max Verstappen, driver for Oracle Red Bull Racing and from the Netherlands, during the Sprint Qualifying before the Formula 1 Grand Prix of China at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 19, 2024 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images)
SQ3 was the kind of session that Verstappen, three-time Formula 1 world champion, thrives in. His broad smile as he emerged from the pits in the powerful Red Bull RB20 indicated that he believed pole position was within his reach. However, he soon encountered difficulties with traction and expressed his struggle after the thrilling Sprint Qualifying session in Shanghai on Friday. Verstappen admitted: “The track was incredibly slippery. I had a lot of trouble warming up the tires, which made it very challenging to keep the car on track. It felt like driving on ice. Although we had a good performance in dry conditions, it just didn’t work for me in the rain. Despite that, I am quite pleased with our performance.”
One can only imagine if the impressive Red Bull RB20, designed by the talented Adrian Newey and his team, lacks grip in slippery conditions. This suspicion was reinforced by the car’s performance in Melbourne and again today in the rain. In the end, Verstappen only managed a fourth place, trailing two seconds behind Lando Norris’ impressive lap in the McLaren. However, the Dutch driver outpaced his Red Bull Racing teammate, Sergio Perez, by four tenths of a second. Perez, a seasoned veteran, will start from sixth position for the Saturday Sprint Race, just behind Verstappen’s car.
Starting from fourth position on the grid, directly behind his rival Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen faces an intriguing challenge. Regarding his chances in the Sprint Race, he commented: “Starting from the inside here is not ideal due to the lower grip from left to right caused by the painted surface on the asphalt. We will have to aim for the best possible start. Then, I foresee a relatively long stint on a set of tires, which should make things quite interesting.” Verstappen, the current leader of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship, remains optimistic.
Meanwhile, Perez had a different experience in the sister RBR #11 car. He had a promising start but encountered traffic and struggled with the final corner. As a result, he went off track, preventing him from achieving a better position.
Perez is going through a period of success and feels more confident and comfortable behind the wheel. Despite facing a setback during today’s Qualifying, he believes their race pace will help them overcome it.
According to Perez, he feels they are in a favorable position and has immediate confidence in the car. He believes they can be competitive in any condition moving forward, which is a very promising outlook for the team.
China is hosting the first of six Sprint Race weekends in the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship. This is the first time the race has been held in Shanghai since 2019.
It is worth noting that Red Bull has only won the Chinese GP twice, with Daniel Ricciardo (20??) and Sebastian Vettel (20?). Neither Verstappen nor Perez have ever won this race. Verstappen has only been on the podium once out of the five times he has raced in China. In 2017, he managed to climb from 16th position on the grid to 2nd place by the end of the race. In 2019, he finished in fourth place.
During the last Grand Prix in China, Perez achieved his best position in Shanghai, finishing eighth for Racing Point (now Aston Martin). This was his best result out of the nine times he has raced in Shanghai. This report was made possible thanks to BC.GAME. (Additional reporting by Agnes Carlier in Shanghai)
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Portugal wins Euro Cup in thrilling final against France
Last Sunday, the Portuguese national football team won the Euro Cup in a thrilling final against France. With a brilliant performance, the Portuguese players showed their determination and talent, securing a 2-1 victory in extra time. It was a match full of emotions, with great plays and intense rivalry between the teams.
The game started with France dominating possession and creating some goal-scoring opportunities. However, Portugal proved to be a solid defensive team and managed to neutralize the French attacks. Gradually, the Portuguese team balanced the game and began to create their own chances.
In the second half, France opened the scoring with a beautiful goal from Mbappé. It seemed like the French team was close to winning the title, but Portugal did not give up. With an individual play from Cristiano Ronaldo, the team equalized the game and took the decision to extra time.
It was in extra time that Portugal showed its strength and determination. With a goal from Éder, the Portuguese national team turned the game around and secured the victory. It was a historic moment for Portuguese football, as they won their first major title. The players and fans celebrated intensely, marking this unprecedented achievement.
The victory of Portugal in the Eurocup is a milestone for the country’s football. It shows that, even in the face of great adversities, it is possible to exceed expectations and achieve the long-awaited title. The Portuguese players are true heroes, who fought with determination and passion in every match.
Now, the Portuguese national team is preparing for new challenges. The next goal is the World Cup, where Portugal will seek to repeat the success achieved in the Eurocup. With a talented and determined team, the Portuguese have all the conditions to surprise again and win another title for the country.
The Eurocup of 2024 will be marked in the history of Portuguese football. It was an exciting competition, full of great games and unforgettable moments. Portugal showed its strength and ability to overcome, proving that it is one of the great powers of world football. Now, it is time to celebrate this achievement and cheer for more success in the future.
