Max Verstappen, the Dutch driver of Red Bull Racing, remains calm even though he is not leading in any of the two practice sessions for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Verstappen suspects that rival teams may have increased the power of their engines to improve their lap times. In the first session, it was a surprise to see Daniel Ricciardo, from Red Bull, finish in first place, with Verstappen coming in sixth, 0.369 seconds behind. In the second practice session, which is considered more representative, Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes took the lead with a time of 1:30.374s, leaving Verstappen 0.477 seconds behind in sixth place once again. Verstappen acknowledges that there are some configuration issues that Red Bull needs to resolve before the qualifying session on Friday. He believes that some of the teams around him may have increased the power of their engines to achieve a better top speed. Despite this, Verstappen remains focused on his own performance and seeks to find the right balance on the bumpy tarmac of the Bahrain International Circuit. Although he does not think that all teams have increased the power of their engines, he believes that some have.
Regarding Red Bull’s progress this weekend, Max Verstappen stated that the team is not far from finding the desired “sweet spot.” He is managing his expectations for qualifying, anticipating a tight session while also focusing on preparing the RB20 for the race through crucial long runs in the final practice. Verstappen emphasized the importance of ensuring the car’s performance during the race, although he recognizes the importance of qualifying. Despite not being overly concerned about the difference to the top position in practice, he expects fierce competition in qualifying. While Verstappen found some aspects of the long run satisfying, he believes there are areas that need improvement.
Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s teammate, finished in 12th and 10th place in FP1 and FP2, respectively. Perez also prioritized the mechanical balance of the RB20 during the day, aligning with Verstappen’s focus on developing the car for long races. However, Perez acknowledged the competitiveness in a single lap and expects a fierce battle in qualifying, especially considering Mercedes’ strong performance in FP2. Despite previous claims of a significant advantage for Red Bull, Perez believes that the competition is much closer than originally thought.
