Verstappen swears in FP1 at Imola: 'The f***ing front'
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- Estéban den Toom
Max Verstappen was not happy during the first practice session at Imola ahead of the Grand Prix. The Dutchman, like many other drivers, kept having no grip at turn 11 of the circuit. Tom Hart, performance engineer, could be heard on board radio during the first free practice session. He immediately had to deal with an invective Verstappen.
Throughout the day, Verstappen was frustrated by Acque Minerali, where he lost most of his time. "Max, just to break down the sectors, you're currently purple sector 1 and 3, but we're losing four-tenths. Obviously turns 11 to 12, you highlighted, but turn 7, I think, and 9 are also a little bit weak," Hart, who was the Dutchman's race engineer for the session instead of Gianpiero Lambiese, told the defending world champion over the radio.
The Dutchman shot straight across the grass and through the gravel on multiple occasions. "I can't brake late because the car then initially wants to bottom really badly, then on the entry to the apex I just have no f*** front," Verstappen said after struggling in the circuit's 11th corner.
Verstappen is at his wit's end
When Verstappen is told by Hart that turns seven and nine are still not really going great, the Red Bull driver replies with: "Yeah but what is weak? I have the set-up off," said the reigning world champion, who is at his wit's end.
Red Bull has introduced five updates ahead of the race at the Italian circuit, yet Verstappen's first free practice of the weekend ended in reasonable dismay. During the first free practice for the Imola Grand Prix, Verstappen did not get beyond the fifth time. Charles Leclerc finished at the very top of the FP1 timesheet.