Max Verstappen Highlights Red Bull's Weakness in Baku

Max Verstappen has pinpointed Red Bull's Achilles' heel on the opening day of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where the Dutchman finished Friday's second practice in sixth position. While his initial performance at the Baku City Circuit was relatively subdued, Verstappen identified a clear area for improvement as he prepares for a crucial qualifying session.

Why it matters:

Red Bull, typically dominant, found themselves off the absolute pace during Friday practice in Baku. For Verstappen to openly acknowledge a specific weakness indicates a focused effort to extract maximum performance, which is vital on a track where qualifying position often dictates race outcome. This could set the stage for a much tighter battle than usual at the front.

The Details:

• Verstappen concluded FP2 over six-tenths of a second behind pacesetter Lewis Hamilton.
• Despite the gap to the front, he held a five-tenth advantage over his teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
• Car Balance: Verstappen expressed satisfaction with the car's balance, stating, "The car feels good, which is positive. We've found a stable balance on this rather specific track. That's what you need."
• Focus on Speed: With a good balance established for the RB21, the team's primary focus for Saturday's third practice and qualifying will be extracting outright speed.

Between the lines:

Verstappen's comments underscore a familiar challenge for Red Bull on certain circuits: maximizing single-lap pace. While their long-run performance often remains strong, qualifying can be a bottleneck. Baku's unique street circuit layout, with its long straights and tight corners, demands a delicate balance between aerodynamic efficiency and mechanical grip, making outright one-lap speed a premium.

What's next:

Red Bull's overnight task is to unlock more single-lap performance from the RB21. Verstappen anticipates a closely contested qualifying session and stressed the importance of a perfect lap. If the team can address this identified weakness, they stand a chance of challenging for pole position, otherwise, they might face an uphill battle against strong competitors who appear to have found their stride early in the weekend. The true test will come in Saturday's qualifying, where every millisecond will count.