Wheel’s on fire! Verstappen keeps his cool to claim pole
MAX Verstappen was ‘really worried’ his first-ever sprint at Silverstone was over before it began after his brakes overheated and caught fire on the starting grid.
With temperatures on track reaching 47C it was a tricky test for Verstappen to keep his brakes cool as the grid filled out at the back.
He soon caught a glimpse of fans photographing his car from the stands in horror at the flames engulfing his front left tyre.
Verstappen said: ‘I was really worried. A little bit of fire is okay but at one point it was becoming quite big and I was looking in my mirror to
the cars at the back like: “Please, speed up!” I wasn’t sure going
into Turn Three if my brakes were going to work.
‘I saw a few people in the grandstand taking pictures when the brakes were on fire. For sure, they got a good few shots there.’
Verstappen was able to brush it off with a wry smile after he dominated Lewis Hamilton to claim pole position. A miserable Hamilton simply said of Red Bull: ‘They are too fast.’
The Dutchman, however, was more thoughtful and said: ‘It’s a bit different because we’re quick on corners and they are quick on the straights this weekend.
‘Of course, after only one free practice session you can’t make any changes so if you don’t get it right, you are a bit stuck. So, we are a bit stuck on the straights.
‘I still expect with a pit stop coming into play, two pit stops coming into play, it’s going to be a good fight.’