Marko furious as Red Bull ‘are not working in the right direction’

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez did not enjoy the easiest day of running during practice for the British Grand Prix.

Red Bull adviser Dr Helmut Marko was left annoyed after a difficult Friday for his team in Silverstone.

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez only managed a handful of install laps during FP1 when it was mostly rained off, and the Dutchman ended P4 ahead of the seventh-placed Mexican in the second session as they managed 35 laps between them.

Truth be told, not many teams really showed their hand in either of the first two sessions of the weekend, but Dr Marko divulged that the Austrian side were hit with some issues on Friday.

“We haven’t got the set-up right yet, we’re not getting the right balance in the car,” he told MotorsportMagazin.

“We are suffering from both oversteer and understeer and can’t find grip in the slow corners, we are not working in the right direction yet.”

READ: Wolff denies being ‘intimidated’ by Binotto as he reveals Mercedes have changed design concept

The handling problems were a result of a “bodywork” issue after the team brought a revised engine cover to the British Grand Prix this weekend, but Dr Marko confirmed that it was “nothing serious.”

Verstappen conceded that it had not been the most ideal session Red Bull have had this season, but it was far from a disaster.

Article continues below

“I mean it’s always a bit tricky after of course not driving in FP1 for everyone,” he said after FP2.

READ: Max Verstappen opens up on Drive to Survive return for season 4

“Then FP2 of course becomes a lot more of a bit of guessing, let’s say it like that, where normally in FP1 you just build it up.

“It was maybe not ideal but also not a big issue, so I think we know what we have to work on and that’s what we’ll try to do overnight.

“But again tomorrow probably it’s raining so again different kind of conditions but it was okay.”

The 24-year-old acknowledged that missing a session’s running due to rain worked against the Milton Keynes-based side slightly, but it was not a massive problem.

“It’s a bit of hit and miss, sometimes it works for you, sometimes not amazing,” added Verstappen.

“This time it was maybe not amazing but it was also not really bad, we’re still in there and there’s still a few things to look at with tyres as well so it’s alright.”

Valtteri Bottas topped FP1 for Alfa Romeo, before Carlos Sainz set the fastest lap in the dry second session.