Max Verstappen kicked off the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend by topping the timesheets in Free Practice 1, but had to settle for fourth in FP2. The Red Bull driver was dominant in FP1, but then opted for a different approach by not using soft tyres at all in the second session.
The decision immediately raised questions. Verstappen admitted it was part of the plan to anticipate potential rain in the next session. "I wanted to do a long run in case there was some rain coming in," he explained. He and the Red Bull team spent the entirety of FP2 on medium tyres, after using two sets of softs in FP1.
The Sepang International Circuit is known for punishing tyres. The hot track temperatures cause high degradation, and Verstappen felt that from the start. "It was a decent start, but it's tricky. The track is really hot, so there is a lot of degradation, a lot of things to figure out, but it's been positive," he said after FP1.
In FP2, Verstappen could not improve on his time from the first session. However, that doesn't mean he didn't make progress. According to him, the hotter conditions and a different programme made comparisons difficult. "Progress is difficult. It was warmer again in FP2, a different programme. So, hard to say progress, but still a lot of things to look at, to try and understand better," he clarified.
This different approach highlights how crucial tyre strategy is in Bahrain. With high degradation, the right tyre choice will be key to success in the race. Red Bull seems to be gathering as much data as possible for the long runs, considering the race will be held in challenging conditions.
Verstappen still has one more practice session, FP3, which is expected to be dry. This is his last chance to fine-tune the car before the crucial qualifying session. If the weather permits, he can focus on one-lap performance and race simulation.
The competition in Bahrain is predicted to be tight. Although Verstappen was strong in FP1, he must be wary of rivals like Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton who also showed speed. Qualifying will be the real test, and Verstappen hopes his tyre strategy pays off.
With hot track conditions and high degradation, tyre management will be a deciding factor. Verstappen and Red Bull seem to have a well-thought-out plan, and now it's just a matter of whether it goes according to plan.
Baca Juga
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