P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen paints bleak picture for Red Bull’s prospects after difficult Friday practice at Imola.
Max Verstappen acknowledged that Red Bull needs to improve if they want to compete for pole position at the F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, following a challenging Friday at Imola where he finished P7 in FP1 and P5 in FP2, nearly half a second behind the McLarens. Verstappen was dissatisfied with the handling of his upgraded Red Bull, expressing frustration and even seen punching his steering wheel after a messy lap. He admitted that Red Bull is currently not fast enough to challenge at the front this weekend, feeling the need to work on improving corner balance and pace on long runs. Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda also struggled, finishing P16 in FP1 and P8 in FP2. In a bizarre incident, Verstappen reported finding a loose nut in his cockpit during practice, raising safety concerns and prompting speculation about its origin. Former world champion Jacques Villeneuve commented on Verstappen’s challenging day, highlighting the difficulty of handling the car and the potential risks posed by the loose nut incident.
