Max Verstappen after P4 in the second practice session: Red Bull Racing need to step it up

The start to his Red Bull Racing team’s home race in Styria did not go to plan for Max Verstappen. As early as the first free practice session, the 71-time Grand Prix winner was struggling with his race car. He complained about the car’s balance and the fact that his car was severely understeering.

The second practice session didn’t go smoothly either. As early as the first lap, the four-time champion was puzzled by the position of his seat; after five laps, he headed for the pits to give his team the chance to make the necessary adjustments. That was quickly done, but the Dutchman’s concerns were not over yet.

The engine mapping was causing problems for the exceptional driver; he found the third corner particularly difficult because the revs suddenly dropped dramatically, as he reported over the radio. Team principal Laurent Mekies admitted: “That was one of the concerns for the team from Milton Keynes.”

After getting out of the car, Verstappen said: “It was a difficult day and we struggled to find the right car balance. We need to find more grip at both the front and the rear, and to do that we need to find the right compromise. It seems we’re still a bit short. We’ll see what we can do now.”

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