Max Verstappen hopes the forecasts of rain for tomorrow’s qualifying session in Melbourne turn out to be true.
The Red Bull driver said he was “very happy” with his car’s behaviour during Friday practice. However he believes wet conditions should suit them better and would help mask their straight-line speed deficit.
“I enjoy myself as well,” he added. “Hopefully tomorrow will be wet.”
Verstappen ended the second practice session within two-tenths of a second of Lewis Hamilton but expects his rival will be more competitive in qualifying.
“We know Mercedes are going to be quick. We have still some things to improve, of course, but it’s positive.”
Although the top three teams were closely matched on performance on Friday in Australia, Verstappen says it’s too soon to judge whether all three can be title contenders.
“We just did two practice sessions, I’m not thinking about that,” he said. “First we have to do qualifying, if it’s going to be wet or dry we will find out. But it’s a positive start to the season, I think.”
“This is one grand prix, I think you need at least two, three grands prix to really see what’s going on,” he added. “Even then it’s all about the development rate of the car.”
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hahostolze (@hahostolze)
23rd March 2018, 8:55
Whatever the actual order or deficit, the Red Bull RB14 looks to be a mighty good chassis. Which does make their optimism for a wet quali logical. Could make for a fun grid.
Boomerang
23rd March 2018, 13:38
I might be wrong but no car with the front axle roll center so high should be good in wet or on empty tank. Wet should expose the weaknesses of the chassis. We’ll see, I’d rather be wrong on this one for the sake of good racing.
hahostolze (@hahostolze)
23rd March 2018, 16:42
Yeah I have absolutely no idea, that is way too technical for me. I haven’t seen too much roll in the corners so I’ll stick to my comment ;-)
Excuse me :D (@square-route)
23rd March 2018, 8:55
Title 1 of a season going to be full of :
hoping for to mask engine deficit against Mercedes.
?
Excuse me :D (@square-route)
23rd March 2018, 8:57
Title 1 of a season going to be full of :
**other teams/drivers** hoping for **something … anything** to mask engine deficit against Mercedes.
?
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
23rd March 2018, 10:06
We’re just two practice sessions in the season and the moaning has just started from the RBR camp, why not say that the RB14 is a downforce monster that produces a lot of drag which makes it slow in the straights and very fast in the corners which is just perfect in wet conditions.
Paulie
23rd March 2018, 10:13
…and who’s moaning now? ;-)
erikje
23rd March 2018, 11:46
Moaning??
I do not see any moaning here.. but maybe your POV is responsible for this strange interpretation.
Moi
23rd March 2018, 12:29
– The Red Bull driver said he was “very happy” with his car’s behaviour
– “I enjoy myself as well,” he added. “Hopefully tomorrow will be wet.”
– We have still some things to improve, of course, but it’s positive.”
– Verstappen says it’s too soon to judge whether all three can be title contenders
– But it’s a positive start to the season, I think.”
– “This is one grand prix, I think you need at least two, three grands prix to really see what’s going on,”
Please explain why you consider this ‘moaning’ ? All I see is a very balanced statement with a positive outlook.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
23rd March 2018, 19:06
It’s a part of RBR communication strategy to get their drivers talk bad in front of every camera of whatever the team doesn’t like. I agree that the word “moaning” perhaps is probably a bit harsh but I’m pretty confident that we will soon get to that stage early in the season. What I didn’t like in Max’s statement is the fact that he talked about how it is not so engine dependent in the wet. RBR doesn’t miss any opportunity to remind the whole paddock how the current engines are their only weakness which has not been always true during the past 3 years.
sethje (@seth-space)
23rd March 2018, 20:25
Being realistic is not “talk bad”. Their engine is a obvious weak point. Merc suggest they have 1000Bhp and Ferrari found 15Bhp extra while Renault only aimed at reliability for now ( that was very bad last year!)
RBR started 2017 with a development deficit as a result of incomplete or insufficient data. They mentioned that very early in the season. No Moaning either..
There was someone moaning a lot last year… look at your avatar for a hint.
Jeroen Valkema
23rd March 2018, 13:57
Moaning… That was the word i was looking for when i saw your avatar. Thanks
Boomerang
23rd March 2018, 13:43
Lewis’ time: FP2 2017 1:23.620, FP2 2018 1:23.931. I’d say someone is playing stick and carrot game!