Chandhok expected Red Bull to come under pressure in Russia!

Karun Chandhok expects a lot of competition for Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon. Verstappen has failed to finish the last two races, whilst Albon claimed his first podium last time out in Mugello. However, the Austrian formation had a difficult first day and still has a lot of work to do.

"Mercedes might be on a different planet, but the battle behind them could be great this weekend," Chandhok said during the second free practice session at Sky Sports. The F1 analyst saw that the differences between Red Bull, McLaren, Renault and Racing Point are very small.

Verstappen will need a strong Saturday in qualifying if he wants to put pressure on Mercedes. Judging from Friday's results, the setup of the RB16 is not yet as it should be. "It's not only Max who has a moderate day, but it's Red Bull in general," the former Formula 1 driver explains.

According to Chandhok, Albon also showed that the balance of the Red Bull car was not yet optimal. The 24-year-old British Thai did manage to pick up the pace reasonably well on the first day of the GP weekend in Russia, as he was only two tenths slower than Verstappen.