P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen appeared sceptical of Red Bull’s pace ahead of this weekend’s F1 Abu Dhabi GP, with Verstappen needing to win to stand any chance of winning the title.
Max Verstappen expressed doubts about Red Bull’s speed for the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the race that will determine the Drivers’ champion. During Friday’s free practice sessions at Yas Marina Circuit, he finished second twice behind Lando Norris, who leads the title race in his McLaren. It seems like Norris and his McLaren have an edge at the moment, even though Oscar Piastri was only 11th fastest in the second session. Verstappen seems to be managing expectations for the race, as he needs to overcome a 12-point gap to Norris to win the title. Despite being relatively satisfied with the RB21’s performance, he believes it’s not fast enough to challenge the McLarens. Verstappen acknowledged that the team needs to find more speed and improvements for both single-lap and long-run performance if he wants to stand a chance at winning the championship.
