Opportunities for Red Bull: 'Honda was still driving with reduced power'

Max Verstappen set the fastest time in the first free practice session of the Hungarian Grand Prix, but a few hours later he had to outperform the Mercedes cars of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. Red Bull Racing would not be driving at full power, however.

According to the Austrian Auto, Motor und Sport during the first day not yet shown everything. "Honda was still driving with reduced power on the first day of practice. It was noticeable in the top speed. The Mercedes drove five km/h faster on the straights and gained half a second on their opponents in all passages at full throttle combined. Because they are all driving with maximum downforce, the engine power makes the difference."

The Red Bull driver complained a lot about the balance of his car during the afternoon session. Verstappen therefore failed to reach the times of Hamilton and Bottas. "Verstappen lost the most in the first part of the circuit. A full three tenths on Bottas. In the other two sectors he was only one tenth behind. Once on Bottas, then on Hamilton."

Battle between Hamilton and Verstappen

Verstappen must try hard this weekend to keep the difference in the world championship between Hamilton and him as big as possible. For now, he is eight points ahead of his rival.