Breaking news
Formula 1
Verstappen explains why Red Bull couldn't carry Friday form
Max Verstappen says Red Bull's form in Friday practice in Russia didn't carry over into the race because it had less room to improve than its rivals.
Valentin Khorounzhiy
Published: Oct 2, 2019, 10:19 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Verstappen had outpaced his nearest rival, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, by three tenths on Friday, and looked able to match the Ferraris and Mercedes cars over a long run.
However, he ended up seven tenths off Leclerc's pole time in qualifying, and while he swiftly worked his way back towards the front in the race after serving a five-place grid penalty, he wound up posing no threat to the podium finishers, despite a late safety car bunching up the field.
"It was pretty boring," Verstappen summarised after bringing the car home in fourth place, 14 seconds off the winner. "That was definitely the best we could've [achieved]."
Verstappen said his RB15 was "just not quick enough" to challenge those ahead, and felt the team was right to forgo a late pitstop to go for the fastest lap point - as it didn't have the requisite tyres, nor the underlying pace.
Asked why he ended up less competitive than he'd looked on Friday, Verstappen said: "Well, they [Ferrari and Mercedes] turned their engines up more than us. And, I think maybe they were not happy with their car balances - I mean I was straight away quite happy with mine.
"Anyway this track is not suitable for us, so I guess it was just a really good Friday, where we nailed straight away the set-up, and for them it took a while to settle in."
Read Also:
- Jos Verstappen urging changes to avoid another "lost year"
- Red Bull's recent form vs Ferrari "very odd" - Verstappen
Teammate Alex Albon enjoyed a contrasting weekend, having looked well off the pace in practice and crashing in qualifying before recovering to fifth place from a pitlane start.
While the final result was aided by fortuitous virtual safety car timing, Albon was able to make steady progress through the pack, and sealed his second top-five finish in F1 with a late pass on McLaren's Carlos Sainz.
"Happy after obviously a tough Saturday. I think that was really the best we could've done," Albon said.
"A little bit fortunate with the safety car and everything like that, but still, pace was there.
"It feels like at the moment FP1 is always a struggle, and it kind of gets better through the weekend, and then by Sunday it's normally more or less okay.
"Just need to kind of get into that rhythm and that speed earlier in the weekend. It will come. Just [need] more laps.
"But yeah, it was a tough weekend truthfully, but I'm happy with the progress."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Mercedes praises Bottas's "dog fighting" with Leclerc
Next article Mercedes accounts reveal cost of 2018 F1 title
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Valentin Khorounzhiy
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
WTCR
WTCR
Hungaroring
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
General
General
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
More from
Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
11 h
Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”
Max Verstappen defends Chris Lulham after online abuse
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
Max Verstappen defends Chris Lulham after online abuse
More from
Red Bull Racing
Red Bull called Christian Horner to thank him for F1 engine project after maiden win
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
22 h
Red Bull called Christian Horner to thank him for F1 engine project after maiden win
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Latest news
Jorge Martin the slowest Aprilia in Australia practice: “I'm used to riding with the Ducati here”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
22 min
Jorge Martin the slowest Aprilia in Australia practice: “I'm used to riding with the Ducati here”
2027 Winter Series calendar: Three series across five circuits
General
Misc General 48 min
2027 Winter Series calendar: Three series across five circuits
Ducati says Aprilia “can do whatever they want” amid team order talks in MotoGP
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Ducati says Aprilia “can do whatever they want” amid team order talks in MotoGP
Why it's now Oliver Bearman versus Rafael Camara for the next Ferrari vacancy
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
1 h
Why it's now Oliver Bearman versus Rafael Camara for the next Ferrari vacancy
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe