Red Bull say DRS issue caused Max Verstappen to abort final lap as Charles Leclerc hails ‘special’ pole

Red Bull explain Max Verstappen’s “no power” cries as Charles Leclerc produces “something special” to claim another 2022 pole; Watch title rivals on front row again in Spanish GP, live on Sky Sports F1 at 2pm with build-up from 12.30pm

Red Bull have explained that a DRS issue caused Max Verstappen to abort his final lap in Spanish GP qualifying as the world champion suffered another reliability wobble to prevent him challenging Charles Leclerc.

Verstappen was hoping to respond to Leclerc’s mighty final Q3 lap but right at the start of his effort he bemoaned “no power”, and crawled around the circuit before heading back to the pits.

He would finish second thanks to his first lap, 0.3s behind pole-sitter and title rival Leclerc.

While Verstappen’s lack of power would usually suggest an engine problem – which would be a fresh scare for the Dutchman given he has already had his fair share of reliability woes this year – Red Bull boss Christian Horner confirmed to Sky Sports F1 that it was actually down to DRS.

“It wasn’t actually power in the end, it was the DRS that didn’t open,” said Horner.

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Red Bull boss Christian Horner says Max Verstappen had a problem with his DRS rather than a power issue towards the end of qualifying

“Obviously we need to get the car back to understand what caused that because it opened on the back straight just as a check when he came back into the pits.”

Verstappen called his aborted lap a “shame” as he felt he could have challenged Leclerc, although Horner said: “I don’t think we had enough today to beat that lap of Charles.

“It was a great lap by him under pressure at the end there, but I’m still pleased with the front-row start.”

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Max Verstappen was satisfied after qualifying second in his Red Bull, but admits it will be tough to overtake title rival Leclerc for the win in Sunday’s race

Verstappen has won all three of the races he has finished this season, with reliability DNFs in the other two. Without those, he would be ahead of Leclerc in the standings – but instead the Monegasque holds a 19-point lead.

Leclerc hails ‘special’ pole | Di Resta: He’s right on the edge

Leclerc now has four poles in six rounds, but his latest triumph didn’t come easy.

The 24year-old, who had topped all three practice sessions going into qualifying, was put under immense pressure for his final lap after spinning on his first effort, pushing his Ferrari too hard into Turn 14.

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Leclerc was thrilled to get pole in Spain after what he described as a ‘tricky’ qualifying session in his Ferrari

But Leclerc held his nerve to deliver “something special”.

“Obviously the circumstances weren’t easy,” said Leclerc. “This lap had something special because of the mistake just before.

“I knew I only had one chance and I managed to squeeze everything in that lap.”

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Leclerc will start the Spanish Grand Prix on pole after title rival Verstappe suffered a power issue at the end of qualifying

Sky Sports F1’s Paul Di Resta was suitably impressed with Leclerc’s recovery.

“He is prone to a crash, he is prone to a spin, he is right on the edge… but those laps under that pressure and leading the championship, they can win you the championship.

“When you can pull something like that out when you get back to the garage and keep your head straight he is clearly in this until the very end to fight.

“When he has been given the chance to deliver this year he has done it every time.”