Verstappen plays down Red Bull's Friday pace

  • Published on 25 Oct 2019 23:00
  • comments 0
  • By: Dieter Rencken & Fergal Walsh

Max Verstappen has played down Red Bull's Friday pace after it ended both practice sessions just over one-tenth down on the pace-setters.

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes concluded the opening session on the top of the timesheets before Sebastian Vettel took over in the afternoon, with the gap back to Verstappen reading 0.119s. 

However, Verstappen believes that Ferrari has too much pace in hand and affirms that the team will focus more on its long-run pace during Saturday practice, as it is not expecting to be in the fight for pole position.

"I don't think in qualifying we can fight with them," Verstappen said. "They are just too quick. The rest is all pretty much in the same speed range, but they are just miles ahead.

"But that's just how it is at the moment, we just can't gain the time back in the corners, unfortunately. I guess for us we've just got to focus more for the race, that we can keep the tyres under control, and I think it can be a good race."

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff added that the Silver Arrows are also lacking straight-line speed compared to Ferrari, as it has done since the start of the season.

Ferrari has taken pole position at every race since the return after the summer break, with Wolff considering the Scuderia outfit as favourites for pole position, labelling the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as one of Mercedes' worst tracks. 

"It's one of our worst tracks, we had graining last year and we are lacking power here compared to the others," Wolff admitted.

With drivers struggling throughout the session on the soft compound, Wolff is expecting the leader of the race on Sunday to control the race under a slow pace. 

"I think it's about surviving with the tyres and making it to the end. The ones at the front will be controlling the pace and holding back, just to make sure that they don't have another stop."

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Red Bull Racing
  • Points 2,638
  • Podiums 100
  • Grand Prix 188
  • Country NL
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (26)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), NL
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar