Verstappen Styrian Grand Prix pole lap not "perfect" despite Hamilton deficit

Max Verstappen has insisted his qualifying lap for the Styrian Grand Prix was not "perfect" despite taking pole position at the Red Bull Ring.

The Dutchman sauntered to the top spot on the grid by almost two-tenths of a second from championship rival Lewis Hamilton to take Red Bull's first pole position in F1 on home soil.

Speaking directly after qualifying, Verstappen said: "It has been a very good weekend.

"Again, in qualifying the car was really good to drive. It was not easy to deal with the traffic in the last few corners to get a clean run but I think that first lap in Q3 was good enough in the end.

"Of course, super happy to be on pole here at home, it is always nice to see a Red Bull car first here.

"When you look at the track you think there are not that many corners but the corners you have on the track are quite difficult.

"Even in turn one, you brake into turn three with the crest, braking into turn four so it is definitely a small track but it is really hard to get a good lap out of it and I think that first lap in Q3 was not too bad. Never perfect but it was good enough."

The pole is Verstappen's second in as many races after doing so in France last weekend and after fighting his way back from an early error at the Paul Ricard circuit, the 23-year-old is hoping for another tussle with Hamilton in the race.

"It is never easy," he added. "I wish sometimes it was easy but in the end, it is good for racing. I am sure again tomorrow it will be very tight so hopefully again it will be as interesting as in France."

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