Verstappen says Red Bull 'on rails' in Spain

Max Verstappen couldn't have been happier with his performance in today's tricky qualifying session for the Spanish Grand prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Verstappen had been quickest in all three practice sessions. He quickly went ot the top of the times in Q1 before a red flag when rain started to fall and Valtteri Bottas briefly went off into the gravel.

He didn't get to set a new fastest lap in the first round, but once the rain dried up it was back to normal service and went faster and faster in Q2 and Q3 before securing pole with a final push lap of 1:12.272s.

• Read also: Verstappen on pole in Spain ahead of Sainz and Norris

That was almost half a second clear of his nearest competitor, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, who narrowly secured the shotgun spot on tomorrow's front row ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris.

“The weekend has been enjoyable so far. The car has been really performing well but of course we always try to find improvements here and there," he said.

"Qualifying started out a bit tricky with the weather but once it started to dry out, the car was on rails," Verstappen confirmed when interviewed by the media in parc ferme afterwards.

"The first run was really quick, then of course we went out again for the second run, that would have been even better, but I was told to abort the lap to save the tyres.

"You needed to be on the track at the right time, not making any mistakes," he said. "Going into Q3 I knew there was good potential left in the car so I could finally push it to the limit.

"It was really enjoyable to drive," he added. "I love coming to Barcelona in general, I love the track and the fans.

"I have a lot of great memories here," he said, thinking back to his maiden race and win with Red Bull in 2016 after promotion from Toro Rosso. "Hopefully, we can add another one [but] we’ll need to watch out for the tyre wear."

One thing that is new to him here is the reprofiled final section that removes the much-hated final fiddly chicane that had been put in place 15 years ago. Verstappen is a big fan of the new look.

"Going into that last corner brings a smile to my face because that’s where an F1 car really comes to life.”

Verstappen's performance so far this weekend has delighted Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

“Max has certainly picked up where he left off in Monaco," Horner beamed. "He did tremendously well today.

"But tomorrow brings new challenges. There are still a lot of variables to consider - the weather, reliability, the start, strategy and then these final two corners. Max will not be resting on his laurels!"

Unfortunately Verstappen won't have the support of his team mate at the start ot the race tomorrow, after his team mate Sergio Perez missed the cut at the end of the second round meaning he will start from P11 on the grid.

"Checo had a difficult qualifying," said Horner. "He went off and then tyre temperature unsettled him. P11 tomorrow leaves him a lot to do but we know he can do well here. He will race hard and come out fighting.”

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