Plenty of overtaking practice for Max after difficult start in Race 1
Published on 19 February 2014 by Stefan Meens
The penultimate day of the last Florida Winter Series round at the Homestead Speedway proved to be an excellent opportunity for Max Verstappen to show his racing pedigree.
After qualifying for the first race in fourth place, Max stalled his engine on the grid which resulted in him dropping back several places. However, this provided an excellent opportunity for the young Dutchman to showcase his overtaking and slipstream skills. After an exciting race full of overtakes, Max only just missed out on the podium with a solid fourth place.
Max prepares for qualifying in glorious sunshine
The Tuesday kicked off with the two qualifying sessions determining the grid for the first and third race. In the first Quali, Max mingles, as usual, with the front runners. With a 1:19.388 Max sets the third fast time. However, Nicholas Latifi sets an identical time. Regulations rule that whoever set the lap earlier, gets the position. Unfortunately for Max, he set his time after Latifi's lap. P4 is therefore Max' place on the grid for Race 1, for which pole position is claimed by Lance Stroll (1:19.159).
In the second qualifying session, Max follows his Quali 1 routine by going out at the halfway point of the session. It appears Max has to again settle for a fourth fastest time, but Antonio Fuoco spoils the party by putting in a stunning pole lap (1:18.933) pushing Max to a fifth place on the Race 3 grid. Verstappen junior is however pleased with the overall performance: "Today was another good day. The car was tailored for the track and we had plenty of speed."
In the late afternoon it is time for Race 1. Max, who starts from fourth, stalls the car and is in last position at the end of the first lap. "I was too quick to lift of the clutch which meant the engine stalled. It was totally my own fault but it was a bit annoying the engine didn't start straight away after stalling", explains an honest Max.
The Formula Abarth fits Max like a glove
Max is no quitter and in lap two he overtakes no less than four cars as he starts the third lap in a solid seventh, behind fellow Dutchman Dennis van de Laar. Max: "As I said, the speed was definitely there. The feel was good which gives you confidence to chase down the cars in front. And if you time it well, with a good slip stream, overtaking becomes fairly easy.
Meanwhile, Ed Jones has taken the lead of the race resulting in a fierce a battle for first place between Jones, Fuoco and Nicholas Latifi Van de Laar has taken fifth off Stroll and challenges Marciello for fourth. In his continued quest to the front of the field, Max therefore has to deal with Stroll. In lap eleven, Van de Laar successfully passes Marciello which enables Max and Stroll to squeeze past the Italian driver as well.
Max, now in sixth, is still chasing Stroll. In lap twelve, Verstappen wins this battle and starts to hunt down Van de Laar from fifth. Three laps later, Max has the upper hand on his fellow Dutchman as he moves up into P4. Unfortunately, Van de Laar does not finish the race, as right after Max overtakes him, Stroll drives into the back of Van de Laar.
"It's a shame for Dennis, after I overtook him he slotted in nicely behind me but he got hit by Stroll's car. Both drivers are out of the race. Their collision has persuaded the organisation to send the safety car out and the race ends up finishing behind it.
The analysing of date is crucial for improving Max' skills and laptimes
"I don't think there would hav been much more to gain, regardless of the safety car. The gap to P3 was too big to close in the remaining laps. Perhaps if the safety car had gone in again before the race ended, I could have mounted an attack for third, because the speed was there", concludes a realistic Max.
On Wednesday the last two race of the Florida Winter Series are scheduled to take place. In Race 2, Max will start from eight due to the reverse grid rule. In the third and final race, Max lines up in fifth.
Results day 2 (Tuesday February 18) - Homestead Speedway - Florida Winter Series:
Results Qualifying Race 1
Results Qualifying Race 3
Results Race 1
Schedule Florida Winter Series Round 4, Homestead Speedway (GMT):
Wednesday February 19 03:30pm-04:00pm – Race 2 08:00pm-08:30pm – Race 3
Click for a direct link to the Florida Winter Series livetiming.
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