Max Verstappen shocked Sky Sports F1 presenter Ted Kravitz with his remarks at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The world champion endured an uncharacteristically error-strewn day on Friday at Imola.
Verstappen finished the opening practice session in fifth place, two and a half tenths behind the leading Ferrari of Charles Leclerc. The Scuderia have brought a significant upgrade package to this weekend’s race.
Red Bull have also introduced some fresh developments on their championship-leading RB20. That’s why executive director Helmut Marko insisted he wasn’t ‘worried’ by the threat of Miami Grand Prix winner Lando Norris.
But in FP2, Verstappen’s deficit to Leclerc more than doubled and he slipped down to seventh in the timings. Red Bull made changes to the set-up of his car but, if anything, they seemed to make things worse.
Verstappen had multiple off-track moments over the course of the day, including a run through the gravel trap in the final minutes. He seemed to grow increasingly frustrated, waving his arm at Lewis Hamilton after he felt the Mercedes driver had impeded him.
The 26-year-old found himself in the unusual position of arriving at Imola looking to bounce back. He’s won 23 of the 26 races since the start of last year.
Ted Kravitz can’t believe Max Verstappen complaints about his Red Bull
Speaking live on Sky before second practice, Kravitz relayed Verstappen’s assessment of his RB20. He apparently felt that it was a ‘catastrophe’.
The presenter was left stunned by this description of a car that’s won four of the first six Grands Prix and taken every pole position. He suspected that Verstappen was exaggerating the extent of his problems.
Kravitz said: “Max Verstappen calling his Red Bull RB20 a ‘catastrophe’? Surely it wasn’t that bad?”
Red Bull’s rivals certainly appear to be closing in. Verstappen predicted before the season that he’d win 12 out of 24 races, and while that seemed conservative at the time, it may now prove to be broadly accurate.
Barcelona star ranks Fernando Alonso above Max Verstappen
Kravitz’s Sky colleague Martin Brundle says Verstappen is the driver ‘you’d have to have’ in your fantasy Formula 1 team. The Dutchman is hunting for a fourth consecutive world championship this year.
He feels that the 58-time winner shares a ‘god-given’ talent with the great Ayrton Senna when it comes to finding grip on the race track. Indeed, Verstappen and Red Bull have looked almost infallible in recent times.
Despite that, one high-profile athlete says Fernando Alonso has the edge. Barcelona midfielder Pedri picked the Aston Martin driver as the ‘best’ in the sport.
Meanwhile, McLaren CEO Zak Brown reckons that Norris can beat Verstappen in a straight fight. After repeatedly finishing as his runner-up, Norris finally got the better of him in Miami.
Verstappen won’t be overly interested in such bold claims from his rivals. He knows that, as long as he remains in the right environment, he could end his career as the most decorated F1 driver ever.
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