Max Verstappen fights with slow times before home races in Zandvoort

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Max Verstappen, the current Formula 1 world champion, made his dissatisfaction about the performance of his team Red Bull. "We are just too slow. On a round and the long runs," he said immediately after the first training session at the Zandvoort's Grand Prix. For Verstappen, the weekend has so far been ideal than optimal that dampens its high spirits in front of the home race.

He was not alone with his concerns. The team had great difficulty on Friday to find the pace and ranked behind the competitors. Verstappen made it clear: "At the moment I have no answer how we can improve. But we look at it. We are just too slow - it's that simple." As he tries to secure his place in the race, he feels the pressure to deliver a strong performance in front of his domestic fans. After all, the Dutch has not won a victory for four races, a negative series, the last time in 2020.

difficult conditions on Friday

The weather conditions in Zandvoort did not play in Verstappen. Strong winds and rain made driving almost impossible in the first training session. It was only in the course of the afternoon that the teams were able to drive a few rounds in dry conditions. "In the second training session, we could see more clearly where we are," said Verstappen afterwards. But with a gap of almost three tenths of a second on George Russell, he was anything but satisfied with a fifth place.

his team -mate Sergio Perez was also in a difficult situation. Perez, who is criticized because he does not show the hoped -for services, also had to deal with his teammate home race. "It looks better than the result says," he claimed optimistically, expressly indicated that there was still a lot of work in front of them. In view of the difficulties, it will be a challenge for the team to increase speed quickly enough.

In particular, the competition is worried. Verstappen and his team have difficulties to catch up with the Mercedes crew around George Russell and Lewis Hamilton as well as the McLaren pilots such as Oscar Piatri and Lando Norris. "We were too slow in the past races, so it's no surprise," said the 26-year-old. The team now urgently needs to develop strategies to improve performance and to secure a place they hoped for on the podium.

weather forecast and race strategy

One of the hopes for Verstappen lies in the weather forecast for qualifying. Rain is expected, which could possibly change the situation on the route. Should he get the chance to demonstrate his driving skills, he could secure a promising starting place for the race on Sunday. In view of the many overtaking bans on the Zandvoort course, this could be decisive.

Instead of calm conditions, Verstappen will have to set all the way to fix the problems of his car quickly in order not to run the risk of staying behind the expectations. The pressure is high: driven by its competition and the expectations of domestic fans, it remains to be seen whether the reigning champion can create the turn.

Formula 1 season 2024 in view

  • The upcoming Formula 1 season comprises 24 races and 6 sprints.
  • The start of the season takes place in Bahrain from February 29 to March 2.
  • The final of the season is celebrated in Abu Dhabi from December 6th to 8th.
  • The new season also brings some changes, such as the return of the China Grand Prix and the renaming of the Alpha-Torti team to Visa Cash App Rb.

The challenges that are faced with Verstappen reflect the intensive competition in Formula 1 and the high demands that are placed on him. While the teams are preparing for the next races, every moment remains decisive, and the next few days not only affect the course of the season, but also the career of some drivers.

Current developments in Formula 1

The Formula 1 season 2023 was characterized by intensive competitions and changing dominance among the teams. While Red Bull managed to show a clear dominance in the first half of the season, Mercedes in particular was able to make progress in the last races. The rise of teams such as McLaren and Ferrari has changed the competitive environment. According to the current team ranking, Red Bull is still ahead, but the distance from the pursuers shrinks. The competition will become even more intensive by strategic change of drivers and new commitments in 2024. The first training rounds in Zandvoort have shown that the teams have to adjust to little foreseeable conditions in the race.

A key factor for success in the current season not only remain the technical improvements, but also the lap times that the drivers have to put in perfectly in qualifying. The strategies that use teams can decide on victory or defeat. The upcoming races could therefore be anything but predictable that increases the tension for fans and drivers equally.

technological progress and changes in the rules

A crucial aspect that continuously influences Formula 1 is the technological advances and changes in the rule. In the 2023 season, several new technical regulations were introduced that aim to promote competition and reduce the costs for the teams. The introduction of budget borders forces the teams to work more efficiently and develop more innovative solutions. As a result, a team like Red Bull, who has benefited from his financial strength in the past, could also sture, should it not be possible to master these challenges.

In addition, focus on more sustainable drives and the use of hybrid technology is another central topic. These developments could not only improve the environmental balance, but also produce new technologies that can be used in the automotive industry beyond Formula 1. Teams are required to adapt to these regulations and at the same time optimize their performance, which leads to an exciting competition for the best engineering services.