Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar expressed concerns over their Red Bull's handling during Sprint Qualifying in Canada. The bumpy Circuit Gilles Villeneuve left both drivers struggling to maintain control.
Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar found themselves battling more than just the competition during Sprint Qualifying at the Canadian Grand Prix. The Red Bull teammates were relegated to the fourth row of the grid, largely due to their car's excessive bouncing. Verstappen, in particular, described the unnerving sensation as making his "feet fly off the pedals," which is hardly ideal when precision is paramount.
The Dutchman, trailing pole-sitter George Russell by over half a second, admitted the car's handling left much to be desired. "I mean, I'm not surprised," Verstappen candidly noted. "The ride was challenging over the bumps, and it was tough to keep consistent. It's something we need to look into."
Isack Hadjar, who had faced his own struggles in Miami, took some solace in being closer to Verstappen's pace. Despite a lack of soft tyre practice in the earlier session, Hadjar managed to find some comfort in SQ3 on the softs. "I finally had a good feeling on the last lap," he said, though he acknowledged that both drivers were not at ease with the car's current state.
Both Verstappen and Hadjar highlighted the notorious bumpy nature of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as a significant factor in their difficulties. Hadjar remarked on the severe bouncing and the track's poor condition, which hampered their ability to harness the car's grip effectively. "We're losing a lot of time," Hadjar lamented, "even if the grip is there, we can't use it."
While the Red Bull duo are stuck with these handling woes for the Sprint, they remain hopeful of improvements ahead of the main Qualifying. The team's engineers certainly have their work cut out for them to ensure the RB22's performance matches its rivals like Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari.