Red Bull reveals why Max Verstappen had to race at Imola without regular engineer

Regening World Champion and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen faced a lot of challenges during the first Free practice race in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Friday. Despite being the fastest in the first sector, the 26-year-old encountered difficulties during his runs on soft tyres. He expressed frustration with bottoming out through Turn 11, impacting his performance.

Verstappen's struggles persisted throughout subsequent runs. He went off-track at the Variante Alta and later found himself in the gravel at Turn 11 again on his final attempt. During these issues, it was highlighted that Verstappen was being engineered by Tom Hart instead of his regular race engineer G Lambiase. 

The team clarified to a media platform i.e. Autosport that this unique scenario is being implemented to offer Hart further exposure to the role of a race engineer. It is a position he previously undertook during the second practice session of the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This initiative aims to enhance his understanding of Lambiase's responsibilities, thereby fostering a stronger working dynamic between them.

How does Max Verstappen express his frustration? 

Max Verstappen's initial attempt to dethrone Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was thwarted by a sluggish performance in the middle sector. Expressing frustration over the radio, he described his updated Red Bull as a "disaster," citing a lack of grip through the Acque Minerali section.

This dissatisfaction culminated in a harrowing moment during FP1's final stages, as Verstappen veered off track through the gravel on his third flying lap on soft tyres. Undeterred, Verstappen embarked on a second soft tyre run, only to encounter another setback. 

While braking from high speed approaching the Variante Alta, he momentarily lost control of his RB20, necessitating a swift correction to avoid a more serious incident. Speaking on the radio he said, “I can’t brake later because then the car wants to bottom badly, then on the entry to the apex I just have no f****** front.”