P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen was downbeat after what he described a “tough” day for his Red Bull team after the first day of free practice for the F1 Emilia-Romagna GP.
Max Verstappen expressed disappointment following a challenging day for his Red Bull team at the Formula 1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix free practice sessions. Despite efforts to improve the RB21 with aerodynamic adjustments at Imola, Verstappen finished FP1 in seventh and FP2 in fifth, trailing behind Oscar Piastri and the McLaren duo. Verstappen admitted that the team’s current performance falls short of their high standards, highlighting the need for further improvements in corner balance and overall speed. The Dutch driver’s confidence in the car’s performance on the new C6 compound tires remains low, as evidenced by the McLaren cars pulling away during long runs. Verstappen acknowledged the tough competition from teams around them and emphasized the team’s ongoing work to enhance their pace for the race weekend.
