P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Helmut Marko has explained why Max Verstappen lost ground to Lando Norris in FP2 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko has acknowledged that Max Verstappen’s RB21 is struggling with understeer at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, despite initial attempts to address the issue after FP1. Verstappen trailed Lando Norris in both Friday practice sessions at the Yas Marina Circuit, notably losing pace in twisty sector three. The understeer problem persisted through push laps and race simulations, surprising the team with its persistence. With the season finale approaching, Red Bull now aims to rectify the car’s handling to give Verstappen a better shot at closing the 12-point gap to Norris in the championship standings. Marko emphasized the team’s focus on race performance over qualifying speed, aiming to improve Verstappen’s chances in Sunday’s grand prix.
