Max Verstappen believes Red Bull is losing “more than a second per lap” on Silverstone’s straights, in the wake of a low-key showing form the team during Formula 1 qualifying.
Neither Verstappen nor team-mate Daniel Ricciardo were in contention for top spot on Saturday afternoon, with the Dutchman qualifying seven-tenths of a second behind Lewis Hamilton.
The increase in downforce since 2017 has led to more of Silverstone’s corners being flat out for the whole field – in turn placing a greater emphasis on engine strength at the venue.
Verstappen bluntly assessed Red Bull’s deficit, commenting: “I think you can figure it yourself.
“I think you miss the engine horsepower and you know you’re going to struggle. Also now with the cars we have, few corners became flat out so it just gets more and more difficult.
“If you lose more than a second on the straight then you know it’s going to be a difficult weekend but actually I was quite happy with how the car was performing in qualifying so actually I don’t have anything to complain.
“I’m driving already four years. You get used to it. Of course it’s not what you want, but it is what it is.”
Verstappen, victor in Austria six days ago, says he is braced for Red Bull to spend the 52-lap race mired in “no-man’s land”.
“It’s going to be hard tomorrow and I think with no luck we will most likely finish fifth as that’s the pace we have in the car but with a bit of luck of course we can move forward,” he said.
“I hope it’s not going to be a boring race but at the moment I think we may be in a bit of a no-man’s land.”
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