Verstappen Acknowledges Gap to Norris Despite Silver Linings in Abu Dhabi Practice
Max Verstappen finished Friday practice in Abu Dhabi trailing Lando Norris, admitting a "decent gap" needs closing. Despite ongoing handling issues, Verstappen found his car "pretty okay" and within a "decent window." Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko remains cautiously optimistic but stresses the need for significant improvements overnight to challenge McLaren for the pole position.
Max Verstappen finished Friday's practice sessions in Abu Dhabi just behind title rival Lando Norris, admitting there's a "decent gap" Red Bull needs to close. Despite a challenging start, Verstappen found some positives, signaling a late push to optimize his car for the crucial weekend.
Why it matters:
Ferrari's pursuit of a breakthrough engine could dramatically reshape the competitive landscape of F1. A powerful yet reliable power unit is crucial for a team aiming to challenge the established frontrunners and return to championship contention, a position they haven't held consistently since 2018.
The details:
- Verstappen was nearly four-tenths of a second off Norris's pace over a single lap, highlighting Norris's strong performance at Yas Marina.
- Despite the deficit, Verstappen described his car as "pretty okay" and felt Red Bull was in a "decent window" for the circuit.
- He acknowledged the ongoing battle with handling issues, a recurring theme for aggressive power unit designs.
- Dr. Helmut Marko's Concerns: Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko expressed moderate satisfaction with Friday's performance but noted that there is still significant work required to overcome McLaren, especially given their strong showing.
- Marko indicated that while this wasn't their worst Friday of the season, the team must improve to challenge for the title.
What's next:
Red Bull plans to analyze data overnight to find improvements and narrow the gap to McLaren. Verstappen remains optimistic about the team's ability to extract more performance. The qualifying sessions will be critical in determining whether Red Bull can challenge McLaren and secure a strong grid position for the race.