'We're lacking everywhere' - Verstappen concerned by Red Bull pace in Barcelona

Speaking at the end of Friday's running as he reflected on his day on track, the Dutchman admitted Red Bull is currently lacking performance in every type of corner. Verstappen pointed to a general lack of grip and highlighted several limitations with the RB22, suggesting the car is struggling particularly with tyre management on a circuit that places significant demands on the rubber. He also acknowledged that the characteristics of the Barcelona track do not appear to suit Red Bull's package at this stage of the weekend.

"Just not good grip. High speed, low speed, medium speed, we're lacking everywhere. Just not where we want to be, to be honest. I think we have some clear limitations with the car. It's very hard on the tyres here. The grip is, of course, not very high here as well and it doesn't seem to suit us at the moment."

Turning his attention to race pace and tyre degradation, Verstappen was equally cautious in his assessment. The four-time world champion suggested Red Bull's long-run performance reflected the same issues seen over a single lap, with the Dutchman believing the team is still lacking pace compared to its main rivals.

Verstappen's frustrations were already becoming apparent during FP2, with the Dutchman repeatedly communicating his concerns over the balance of the RB22 to race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase.

Struggling to find confidence behind the wheel, the four-time world champion grew increasingly dissatisfied with the car's behaviour throughout the session, at one stage questioning whether it was even worth continuing on the current tyre compound before delivering a particularly blunt assessment of the package over team radio. Red Bull arrived in Barcelona without a major upgrade package, opting instead for a couple of small tweaks to the front wing. The changes are aimed at improving the car's balance and giving the team a wider setup window.