Verstappen unimpressed by Madrid's new street circuit
Summary
Max Verstappen remains unimpressed by the new Madrid circuit, admitting he's not a fan of street tracks. Despite a trouble-free first F1 visit, overtaking concerns and Red Bull's midfield pace cast a shadow over the Spanish GP weekend.
F1's first visit to the Madrid circuit has been calmer than feared. The only F1 incident so far was Arvid Lindblad's crash, but Max Verstappen remains unimpressed.
Why it matters:
The Madring is the latest street circuit on the calendar, and its characteristics could shape the Spanish GP. Verstappen's skepticism reflects a broader debate about F1's street circuit trend, while overtaking concerns could impact race quality.
The details:
- Verstappen: "I'm not a fan of street circuits, so that will never change. I will always prefer to drive on a track like Spa." He acknowledged the construction quality but not the concept.
- Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache says the track is challenging for engineers due to corner variety, but predicts overtaking will be "very difficult." Teams must balance stiffness for high-speed corners and softness for kerbs.
- Verstappen ended FP2 sixth, four tenths behind Kimi Antonelli, confirming Red Bull's lack of a golden opportunity. He also reported a power steering issue, but expects it to be fixed.
What's next:
Verstappen remains realistic: "This is more or less where we are. We just need to work a bit on the balance." With qualifying looming, the Madring's overtaking difficulty could make Sunday's race a strategic puzzle.
Original Article :https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/max-verstappens-short-but-telling-reaction-to...
