Red Bull's technical director Pierre Waché has acknowledged a challenging start to the Zandvoort Grand Prix weekend, with the team unexpectedly far from the top positions.
Why it matters: The opening day after the summer break saw Red Bull off their usual pace. Max Verstappen finished FP1 in sixth and improved to fifth in FP2. Teammate Yuki Tsunoda was sixteenth in FP1 and climbed significantly to seventh in FP2, indicating some progress but still requiring substantial work.
The details:
- Waché reported several issues during FP1, which could have led to minor car damage and influenced performance.
- He highlighted the extremely windy conditions at Zandvoort, making it difficult to fully assess car performance.
- Despite a high risk of rain throughout the weekend, especially for FP3, Red Bull opted for a dry-condition setup for both cars in FP2, anticipating less rain for qualifying and the race.
- Waché concluded that while it's hard to pinpoint their exact standing among other teams, they are "in the mix."
What's next: Engineers at the track and in Milton Keynes face an intensive night to optimize the RB21. The aim is to challenge for a podium in a Grand Prix that is shaping up to be unpredictable, particularly with potential weather changes.