AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear

Red Bull Struggles in FP2: Verstappen and Perez Urge Overnight Fix Ahead of Abu Dhabi Qualifying

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
December 6, 2024
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Red Bull Struggles in FP2: Verstappen and Perez Urge Overnight Fix Ahead of Abu Dhabi Qualifying

Formula One F1 - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 6, 2024 Red Bull's Max Verstappen during practice REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

Red Bull endured a tough Friday at the Yas Marina Circuit, with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez finishing 17th and 14th respectively in FP2. Both drivers pointed to handling and balance issues with the RB20, leaving the team scrambling for solutions ahead of Saturday’s qualifying session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.


Verstappen: Balance Issues Plague the RB20

Max Verstappen, already crowned the 2024 Drivers’ Champion, admitted that the RB20 felt “tricky” to drive during Friday’s sessions. Despite his recent victory at the Qatar GP, Verstappen struggled to find pace in Abu Dhabi, citing poor balance as the key issue.

“The balance of the car wasn’t very good today, which made it pretty tricky to drive,” Verstappen explained. “This is something that we need to work on overnight. We will be looking into what we can do to improve our form.”

While Verstappen’s championship win is secure, the Milton Keynes-based team’s hopes of clinching the Constructors’ title have already slipped away, making their end-of-season struggles even more frustrating.


Perez: Long-Run Promise, Short-Run Problems

Sergio Perez, who finished P14 in FP2, echoed Verstappen’s concerns about the RB20’s short-run pace. Though the car showed promise in long runs, its one-lap speed continues to lag behind expectations.

“We have been trying a lot of stuff out there, but it’s not been coming together just yet,” Perez said. “The car is not feeling tremendously bad—it’s just we are slower over one lap than we want to be.”

Perez, under immense pressure due to a lackluster season, knows his performance in Abu Dhabi could influence his future with Red Bull. The 34-year-old’s contract hangs in the balance as the team considers its options for 2025.


McLaren on Top, Red Bull Falling Behind

McLaren, led by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, dominated FP2 and appears to be the team to beat this weekend. With a 21-point lead in the Constructors’ Championship and the fastest car on track, McLaren is poised to secure its first title since 1998.

In contrast, Red Bull’s struggles mark a rare low point in a season otherwise dominated by Verstappen. The team now faces an uphill battle to turn things around before qualifying at the technical Yas Marina Circuit.


What’s Next for Red Bull?

With overnight adjustments critical, Red Bull must address the RB20’s balance and handling to salvage a competitive result in Abu Dhabi. While Verstappen’s championship win provides some cushion, the team’s current form raises questions about their ability to maintain dominance into 2025.

For Perez, the stakes are even higher. A strong performance in Abu Dhabi could bolster his case to remain on the grid, but another underwhelming weekend might seal his fate.


Key Takeaways

  • Verstappen’s Struggles: Poor balance in the RB20 left Verstappen off the pace in FP2, finishing 17th.
  • Perez’s Challenges: Despite decent long-run pace, Perez admitted the car’s one-lap speed is far from ideal.
  • McLaren Dominates: The Woking-based team looks set to end a 26-year Constructors’ Championship drought.
  • High Stakes for Perez: With his future uncertain, Perez faces pressure to deliver in the season finale.
Share212Tweet133Send

Related Posts

Fernando Alonso unleashes fierce criticism of F1 2026 cars: ‘like driving a rental car’
Motorsports

Fernando Alonso unleashes fierce criticism of F1 2026 cars: ‘like driving a rental car’

Fernando Alonso Launches Scathing Attack on F1 2026 Cars: "Like Driving a Rental!" The Formula 1 landscape is undergoing a...

by Redação
February 21, 2026
Cadillac ignites F1 dream with solid preseason performance: a thrilling journey to Melbourne
Motorsports

Cadillac ignites F1 dream with solid preseason performance: a thrilling journey to Melbourne

Cadillac Gears Up for Formula 1 Debut with Impressive Pre-Season Testing Results As anticipation builds for the dawn of a...

by Simon Monroy
February 21, 2026
Williams F1 team battles performance struggles despite impressive mileage at Bahrain test
Motorsports

Williams F1 team battles performance struggles despite impressive mileage at Bahrain test

Title: Williams Racing Faces Uphill Battle After Bahrain Testing: Performance Gaps Loom Large In a gripping prelude to the 2026...

by Harry Stone
February 21, 2026
Alpine shatters pre-season records with over 1000 laps: Gasly leads charge for 2026!
Motorsports

Alpine shatters pre-season records with over 1000 laps: Gasly leads charge for 2026!

Alpine F1 Team Shakes Up Pre-Season with Stellar Performance and Over 1000 Laps Completed! In a stunning display of speed...

by James Taylor
February 21, 2026

Recent News

Fernando Alonso unleashes fierce criticism of F1 2026 cars: ‘like driving a rental car’

Fernando Alonso unleashes fierce criticism of F1 2026 cars: ‘like driving a rental car’

February 21, 2026
Cadillac ignites F1 dream with solid preseason performance: a thrilling journey to Melbourne

Cadillac ignites F1 dream with solid preseason performance: a thrilling journey to Melbourne

February 21, 2026
Williams F1 team battles performance struggles despite impressive mileage at Bahrain test

Williams F1 team battles performance struggles despite impressive mileage at Bahrain test

February 21, 2026
Alpine shatters pre-season records with over 1000 laps: Gasly leads charge for 2026!

Alpine shatters pre-season records with over 1000 laps: Gasly leads charge for 2026!

February 21, 2026

Newsletter

  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TECHNICAL INFORMATION
  • EDITORIAL STATUS
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.

MSports Play Icon
MSports Play
The New streaming service
Download
×
No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.