Verstappen encouraged by Red Bull pace despite lack of top speed

Monza and its immense straights have often been synonymous with suffering for Red Bull in recent seasons due to its deficit in engine power. The stable of Milton Keynes has not experienced the joys of an Italian podium since the introduction of V6 turbo hybrids in 2014. 

But the convergence of engine performances this season, symbolized by the notable progress in propellers Renault and Honda, could change the situation, although Max Verstappen already knows she is condemned to starting from the back of the grid for having bought a new engine this weekend. Author of the 5th fastest time in EL2, behind the Ferrari and Mercedes, the Dutchman was only 0”372 behind the reference time of Charles Leclerc.

« It was a good opening day, said Verstappen as he got out of the car after a day marked by several showers. The conditions were tricky but what we were able to achieve was positive. The car handled well. We look quite competitive on a track where we still lack a lot of top speed.

In the dry, we're not bad but in the rain, we're going faster. So I prefer it to rain on Sunday, especially since I'm starting from the back of the grid. We have a better chance of coming back in the wet but our pace is also satisfactory on the dry track. It's hard to analyze lap times because you have to take into account potential aspirations, but I was all alone during my best attempt.

I'm not too concerned about the fight for pole position but the long runs looked promising. And I am convinced that our new engine represents a real breakthrough ».

His teammate Alexander albon, who received a grid penalty in Belgium, will have the opportunity to truly qualify for the first time with Red Bull this Saturday. If we are to believe Verstappen's words, the Austrian team has not yet decided whether it is going to use the Dutchman as a hare to offer a good aspiration to the Thai rookie.