Max Verstappen ended up at the top of the timing sheet after the first practice session in Japan. The Friday practice sessions for the Japanese Grand Prix were heavily disrupted, with a red flag in FP1 due to a crash. FP2 was also disappointing for drivers due to the constantly changing weather conditions.
Most drivers, including Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, didn’t have much running during FP2. Despite this, Verstappen expressed satisfaction with his RB20 and mentioned that there are still a few things they need to look at and try out.
Verstappen reflected on his performance after the practice sessions and mentioned that he was generally pleased with the first session. He felt that his car was performing well during FP1.
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s qualifying session, Verstappen acknowledged that it could be tricky for Red Bull. He noted that other teams have closed the gap and that qualifying will be a challenging session to master.
Verstappen believes that the competition is closer this year compared to last year. He expects a tighter battle over one lap, but he is unsure about the long run pace.
After a disappointing outing in the Australian GP, Verstappen is determined to put on a strong performance during the ongoing race weekend. However, rain could potentially disrupt Red Bull’s plans for qualifying.