Max Verstappen has started the Formula 1 weekend at Spa-Francorchamps with relative optimism after setting the best time in the first practice session. However, the Red Bull driver pointed out that caution is necessary and that the team’s true performance was reflected more during the second session.
Despite Red Bull anticipating a tough competition due to the energy management needed at Spa, the initial practice sessions turned out to be more positive than expected. Verstappen finished almost half a second behind Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes in the second practice, a figure he considers more representative of the car’s real potential.
The Dutch driver commented: ‘I haven’t had major issues. The car has behaved well, but in FP2 the true difference with our rivals was a bit more visible, and it’s nothing that surprised us.’ Additionally, Verstappen has identified the shortcomings of his car in the long straights, noting that the power unit shows needs for improvement in this aspect.
Another concern for the driver has been the feel of the downshifts, which he described as ‘unacceptable’ during practice. Verstappen explained that his complaints were part of the normal car adjustment process, and that after a software update, the situation improved toward the end of the session.
In terms of design, Red Bull presented a conventional rear wing after temporarily abandoning its rotating system, due to Verstappen’s accidents at Spielberg and Silverstone. Although this decision results in a slight loss of speed, Verstappen trusts that it will not decisively affect overall performance during the weekend.
With optimism rising for a promising start, the driver has shown a competitive spirit, reflecting that they are focused on their own improvements while contemplating how the competition will unfold during the races.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
SourceID: SRC_5aa42fb91998ec57eede3156d5a89e2297965f99