Max Verstappen’s mood seemed far from content during the initial practice session preceding the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old driver clinched a sixth-place finish in P1 but expressed dissatisfaction with his car’s performance throughout, while Daniel Ricciardo secured the fastest lap time.
Verstappen, despite being the frontrunner for a victory on Saturday, voiced audible frustration as he vented his discontent to his team via his microphone, stating, “everything is s***… like miles off.”
In the same session, Ricciardo, representing RB, Red Bull’s subsidiary team, outpaced McLaren’s Lando Norris by a mere 0.032 seconds, with Norris’s teammate Oscar Piastri securing third place.
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The promising performance by Ricciardo in P1 may signal a positive start to the F1 season for Red Bull’s affiliates.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, driving for Mercedes, concluded the session in ninth place, while his teammate George Russell secured seventh place.
Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, broke his silence on Sky Sports for the first time since being exonerated of misconduct allegations following an investigation.
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Horner expressed his focus on the impending grand prix and the season ahead, stating, “We’re here now very much to focus on the grand prix and the season ahead and trying to defend both of our titles.”
However, he refrained from elaborating on the investigation outcome, noting, “I am pleased the process is over but I obviously can’t comment about it.”
When questioned about the team’s solidarity amidst reports of discord, Horner asserted, “Within the team it has never been stronger.”