Red Bull’s Max Verstappen believes the team is looking “more competitive” after Friday’s practice sessions for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Verstappen and Red Bull haven’t won in six rounds with the team’s RB20 suffering from persistent balance issues.
However, the Dutchman topped the F1 timesheet in opening practice at Baku on Friday with his team-mate Sergio Perez second in FP2.
Despite being six-tenths off of Charles Leclerc’s chart-topping pace in the second session of the day, Verstappen was feeling confident about Red Bull’s prospects.
“I think overall we had a good day,” he said.
“We learned a few things. Now we have to look back at what we tried.
“But so far it seems like we are more competitive this weekend, so that’s positive.”
Red Bull and Verstappen’s main struggle has been the disconnected feeling between the front and rear of the RB20, which the Dutchman called a “monster” after the Italian GP.
Perez believes Baku and Singapore represent better opportunities for the team and Verstappen sees the team being competitive once Red Bull’s balance issues are refined further.
“It’s very slippery and there are a lot of 90-degree corners,” he explained.
“Sometimes you keep the brakes on as a precaution to avoid hitting the wall.
“Of course, FP2 was a bit more difficult for me. We need to get the balance a bit better and then I’m sure we can be competitive.”
Perez positive after leading Red Bull team-mate Verstappen in FP2
“It was definitely a good, solid day,” said Perez after finishing just 0.006s back from Leclerc in FP2.
The Mexican is the only repeat winner at Baku and bettered Red Bull team-mate Verstappen by half a second after the Dutchman was quickest in FP1.
“We did good progress from FP1 to FP2, so we just have to make sure that we’re able to progress from here, the Mexican added.
“I think we can definitely be in the mix for tomorrow.
“I think we’re heading in the right direction, we’re finding that we can put a little bit more together the car.
“There’s still a long way to go, but it’s promising what we’ve seen so far.”
A return to form at one of his most promising tracks is just what Perez needs and his FP2 form makes him a pole position candidate.
“I think tomorrow anything can happen, really, so we just have to keep our head down and hopefully deliver a great couple of laps,” he said. “Well, we only need one in Q3!”
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