Max Verstappen and rookie Isack Hadjar were taken aback by the speed of Red Bull's RB22 in Saturday's Barcelona qualifying, securing third‑row starts for Sunday's race. Both drivers ended up within four‑tenths of pole‑sitter George Russell, a result Verstappen described as "better than expected" after he had anticipated a P7‑P8 finish.
Verstappen said a red‑flag interruption cost him rhythm in Q3, and a slide in his final sector prevented a potential P3. Hadjar, who finished P6 just a tenth slower than Kimi Antonelli in P3, expressed disappointment at missing the podium but praised the team's pace gain in the final session. He highlighted the upcoming 66‑lap race as likely to be "fun" due to high temperatures and the need for multiple pit stops, stressing the importance of sharp tyre management.
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The close gap to pole suggests Red Bull's package is competitive, turning strategy into the decisive factor on race day. Both drivers will look to translate the unexpected qualifying performance into a strong result, with pit‑stop timing and tyre degradation expected to shape the final outcome.
