P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has indicated that overheating of his tyres in qualifying for the F1 Emilia-Romagna GP masked the improvements Red Bull has made via new upgrades.
Max Verstappen indicated that the improvements made by Red Bull due to new upgrades were masked by the overheating of his tyres during qualifying for the Formula 1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
Despite coming close to securing pole position at Imola, he finished just three hundredths of a second short of the fastest time.
The RB21 showed marked improvement with new upgrades, primarily to its floor, but Verstappen suggested that the Soft C6 compound brought by Pirelli may have caused overheating issues.
Verstappen expressed frustration with the tyre overheating causing grip problems, especially in the decisive qualifying session.
He acknowledged the positive impact of the upgrades on car performance but highlighted the ongoing challenge of managing tyre temperatures compared to rivals like McLaren.
Verstappen remains cautious about Red Bull’s race pace at Imola, emphasizing the need to find a better balance with tyre management for the race on Sunday.
