P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen finished fifth in the second free practice session for the Dutch Grand Prix and stated afterwards that Red Bull has work to do for the weekend ahead.
Max Verstappen expressed his concerns about the team’s performance after FP2 at Zandvoort, stating they were too slow both on short and long runs and that improvement was needed. Despite ending the session in fifth place, behind George Russell, Mercedes, and McLaren, Red Bull faced stiff competition. Helmut Marko revealed Red Bull wasn’t utilizing full engine power, which impacted their times. Verstappen struggled in the fast corners in the opening sectors, where most of the time was lost, but showed better pace in the short sector 3.
During the long runs, Red Bull and Verstappen need to bridge the gap to their competitors, showcasing the need for improvement. Verstappen experimented with different tire strategies and maintained competitive lap times, especially on Soft tires compared to Russell and Norris. While Red Bull seems slightly behind McLaren and Mercedes, minor adjustments could put them in contention for a fourth consecutive victory for Verstappen at his home Grand Prix. The team’s focus remains on refining their performance ahead of qualifying and the race.
