Max Verstappen's journey in the Qatar Grand Prix qualifying was a rollercoaster ride. Starting from P6 in the Sprint, he faced initial challenges with oversteer at the start and slipped to P8. But then, in the final moments of Q3, he managed to storm to P1, displacing George Russell by a mere 0.055s. However, this joy was short-lived as he was later hit with a one-place grid drop.

Unbelievable Turnaround - Max Verstappen's Qatar Qualifying Drama

Starting from P6 - The Sprint Struggle

Verstappen began the 100km dash from P6. At the start, he struggled with oversteer in his RB20, which caused him to slip backwards. Despite his initial difficulties, he eventually recovered to P8. This setback raised concerns about the potential challenges he might face for the rest of the weekend.

The Dramatic Qualifying Turnaround

Fast forward to qualifying, and everything changed. In the final moments of Q3, Verstappen showed exceptional speed and determination. He stormed to P1, leaving everyone in awe. The world champion attributed this dramatic change to the team's efforts in making the car feel more connected. He said, "Honestly, I also didn't expect that. Well done to the team to give me a car that feels a bit more connected. Once the car is together you can also push harder. It felt a lot better out there in qualifying for me."

The Grid Drop Conundrum

After achieving P1 in qualifying, Verstappen was hit with a one-place grid drop. This was a disappointment for him as he had hoped to start the Grand Prix from pole position. However, he remained positive and focused on the race ahead. He said, "It's a bit of a bummer to lose that pole position, but we'll just have to make the most of starting from P2 and give it our all in the race."