Max Verstappen was downbeat after what he described a “tough” day for his Red Bull team after the first day of free practice for the Formula 1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
The reigning World Champion ended FP1 in seventh spot, three tenths down on Oscar Piastri’s first place time, and subsequently ended the second session fifth, four tenths down on the Australian, who went top again.
Red Bull has brought some aerodynamic adjustments to the Imola circuit, in the hope that it will close at least some of the gap down to the McLarens, who completed a 1-2 in both sessions.
After FP2, Verstappen told Sky F1 that the team tried various ways to improve the RB21, but concluded that it is currently not up to his, or the team’s, rigourous high standards.
“We tried a lot of bits,” he said. “Some were better than others, but overall not fast enough at the moment.”
When asked if the grippier C6 compound tyre Pirelli has brought to the race gives Verstappen any confidence in how the car will perform, his answer was negative.
“At the moment not very high,” he said. “We definitely need a bit more work to get a better true corner balance, to go faster.
“I think it’s the same in the long runs. I got overtaken by the McLarens, so that says enough. They pull away.
“But even then, compared to other teams around us, I think at the moment it was a bit tough today.”
READ MORE: Oscar Piastri edges Lando Norris as Ferrari struggle in second Imola practice
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