Verstappen enthusiastic: 'Will be close in qualifying'

FP1 was not very representative, as many drivers - including Verstappen - did not even touch the softs. FP2, on the other hand, was the most important practice session of the weekend, as the start time is (roughly) the same as the start time in qualifying and the race. But even in that session, therefore, Verstappen did not get there. He conceded half a second to Hamilton.

Verstappen is not worried

Still, Verstappen is not negative about the first sessions of the season: "I think it was not too bad. It's just that I think it's very close. Maybe some people around us already turned up the engine a bit, you know in terms of top speed.We just need to focus on ourselves and I think today there were some small balance problems on the front to rear."

"We just need to find that sweetspot, especially around here with the rough tarmac. Once you get it into that sweet spot, you just pick up time and that is what will try to focus on a litter bit more tomorrow" explained the Dutchman.

Asked if they have already found the right set-up, Verstappen replied, "It's just trying to get into it and and then you feel a little bit happier with the car but at the end of the day You also just want to focus a bit on the long run because that's where the car really needs to work. Of course qualifying is important
But yeah, we need to make sure that the car is in good shape for the race."

Verstappen enthusiastic about qualifying

So Verstappen said he already thought other teams had already screwed up the engine a bit. Asked about that, he replied, "I mean I don't say everyone around us did that but a few did so I'm not too worried about the gap to P1 For example, but it's gonna be very close I think in qualifying. So that's gonna be very nice
The long run I was a bit happpier about that but again, also there are few little things that we can do better"