P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen faces an uphill battle if he is to end his winless streak – and his extend his unbeaten record at his home grand prix in Zandvoort.
Max Verstappen expressed disappointment after challenging practice sessions for the Dutch Grand Prix, where unpredictable weather conditions limited track time for teams to assess car performance accurately. Despite a strong start in FP1, the Red Bull driver struggled to match the pace of Mercedes and McLaren in the drier FP2, ending up fifth fastest. Verstappen acknowledged the need for improvement in both short and long runs, indicating that his team has work to do ahead of the race. With Red Bull facing stiff competition and having lost their performance advantage, the Dutch driver aims to find more speed for Sunday’s Grand Prix to extend his winning streak at home. Verstappen’s recent winless spell and Mercedes and McLaren’s competitive form were not unexpected, leaving the team focused on enhancing their performance come race day.
