Verstappen expects “very tough” Sakhir F1 GP despite Hamilton’s absence
Max Verstappen doesn’t expect this weekend’s Sakhir F1 Grand Prix to be any easier despite Lewis Hamil𒐪ton being🎶 absent after testing positive for COVID-19.
The seven-time F1 champion h♌as been replaced by George Russell for this weekend’s race in Bahrain.
Hamilton has won 11 of the 🐻1🎃5 races in 2020, including the last five in the row.
Despite Hamilton’s absence, the Dutchman doe🍸sn’t believe it will be any easier for Red Bull in Sakhir due to the performance advantage Mercedes currently has over the rest of the field.
“Welꦛl, there is no Lewis but there is Valtteri and George ﷺdriving the fastest car in the field,” Verstappen said. “It will still be very tough and not easy, especially with the layout we have. Lap times will be very close, also with the cars behind us from last week so I don’t expect it to be very easy out there.”
Th﷽is weekend’s race in Bahrain sees F1 race on its outer circuit, which is predominat🥂ely made up of long straights.
Red Bull endured its toughest weekend at Monza - a track made up of long straights - with Verstappen quꦫalifying fifth nearly a second off pole.
When asked about Red Bull’s chances this weekend, Verstappen said: “I really hope it’s not going to be like Monza but we have to wait and ☂see. The track is a bit different compared to Monza. There are a few corners where you can make a bit more of a difference. Monza you run really low downforce, everyone runs really low downforce so you lack on the straights.
“Hereꦯ, there🌊 will be a bit of difference in terms of downforce levels but let’s hope and pray it’s going to be better.”
Versta♚ppen is also in a battle for second in the drivers’ championship, trailing Bottas by 12 points.
With four retirements to his name in 2020, the Dutchman🌜 beli๊eves second would have been secured already had Red Bull enjoyed better reliability.
“Maybe, I don’t know,” Verstappen added. “Need quite a bit of luck for that as well.🔴 It’s a bit of a shame that we had retired four times, otherwise, P2 would have been quite easily there. It is what it is.”
With a sharp ey🥂e for F1’s controversies and storylines, Connor is the 𝔍heartbeat of our unbiased reporting.
