P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen could only manage fifth and seventh on a troubled day at Imola ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen described Friday at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix as a “bad day” due to the challenges he faced with his Red Bull’s performance. The reigning world champion struggled with balance and grip, finishing fifth and seventh in the practice sessions at Imola. Charles Leclerc led both sessions for Ferrari, while Mercedes also had a strong showing, pushing Red Bull to seventh and eighth in the afternoon. Despite Red Bull’s own upgrades at Imola, Verstappen continued to face difficulties even after significant setup changes. Reflecting on the tough day, he acknowledged the need for improvements to stay competitive in qualifying. Verstappen also downplayed an incident with Lewis Hamilton during FP2, emphasizing the team’s focus on addressing their own performance issues rather than external factors.
