Verstappen's day was disappointing: 'His frustration is understandable'

Red Bull Racing hopes to be back on pole at the Turkish Grand Prix, but the first day gave little hope. Max Verstappen lost a lot of time to Mercedes, making it a difficult weekend for him. Although Lawrence Barretto on the official Formula 1 website that hopes are not yet lost for the Austrians.

Verstappen was visibly unhappy after the first two free practice sessions, in which he finished second and fifth respectively. "His assertion that “it’s not looking too good” summed up his mood, and his frustration is understandable, as he knows with Hamilton taking a penalty, this is a chance to put some clear air between him and the Mercedes driver in the standings," Barretto judged.

However, it by no means means means that the team of Verstappen and Sergio Pérez can't change anything anymore. "Red Bull have consistently shown this season that they can find big swathes of time overnight, so they aren’t down and out yet, but our simulations show that they are lacking around a tenth in each of the three sectors to Mercedes, which means it’s not one single area where they are left wanting."

Mercedes incurs a grid penalty

Hamilton will receive a ten-place grid penalty during Sunday's start for replacing his combustion engine. However, Verstappen showed in the Russia GP that it is perfectly possible to end up on the podium from the back.