Max Verstappen struggles with his tyres in qualifying
Formula One-bound Dutchman is sixth fastest in the first qualifying session for the 61st edition of the race
All eyes were on Formula One-bound Max Verstappen as he made his debut at the SunCity Macau Grand Prix on Thursday, but the 17-year-old could only finish sixth in the first qualifying session of the weekend.
Verstappen, who will be racing in the big league for Toro Rosso next season after his shock signing, is the headline name at the 61st edition of the Macau Grand Prix, but he was overshadowed by rivals on the demanding Guia street circuit, clocking a best lap of two minutes 12.811 seconds.
It's not too bad, also for the team it's a new start here so all in all I think we did quite a good job
Tom Blomqvist, competing for the third time in Macau, was fastest in 2:11.922, followed by Antonio Giovinazzi (2:12.037) and best-placed debutant Nick Cassidy (2:12.546).
But no matter where Verstappen finishes in qualifying, he and Frenchman Esteban Ocon will be handed a two-place grid penalty for tomorrow's qualifying race, the final positions of which determine the grid for Sunday's showpiece event. They were penalised for passing a red light and missing a weight check in free practice.
"It's not too bad, also for the team it's a new start here so all in all I think we did quite a good job," said Verstappen, racing for Van Amersfoort. He set the early pace, but faded despite moving to new tyres midway through the session.
