Max seventh after Friday practice in Hungary: 'We're missing the balance'

Published on 17 July 2020 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen ended Friday practice of the Hungarian Grand Prix in seventh place. Sebastian Vettel lapped the wet Hungaroring quickest. The Ferrari driver beat Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) and Carlos Sainz (McLaren) to the top spot. Max’ Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team mate, Alex Albon, did not set a time and therefor finished last.

“The first practice session was not good”, explained Max in the Hungaroring paddock. “We have a lot to look at. Sadly the second practice was wet, otherwise we would’ve been able to make some changes. We still have lots of work to do.”

“I’m not happy but we have all night to look at some things, make changes and improve tomorrow. We’re really missing the right balance. But it’s too early to do a prediction for the rest of the weekend, especially with rain expected throughout the weekend.”

Unlike the first practice session, apart from a few drops of rain was dry, FP2 is a fully wet affair. The weather conditions do not entice the teams to gain track time. Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly, who missed out on any running in FP1 due to technical problems, is understandably out for an installation lap at the earliest opportunity.

After that, action on track only remains sporadic, with Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll (both Racing Point) and Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo) lapping the Hungaroring only a handfull of times.

Fans have to wait until the halfway point for some further engine noise coming from the circuit; Renault have sent out both Esteban Ocon and Daniel Ricciardo on intermediates. Both drivers head straight back to the garage after an installation lap.

Ferrari opts to send their drivers out on full-wets for a longer run. Sebastian Vettel makes the most of the conditions to set the quickest lap of the session, leaping ahead of the Racing Points on the timing sheets.

With twenty minutes to go, there is still no sign of the two Red Bulls, unlike Sebastian Vettel, who has ventured out on track for his second run. The German now opts for the intermediate tyre but fails to beat his time set on the full-wets.

Meanwhile, Red Bull have finally ordered their drivers to head out. Max steers his RB16 onto the circuit with intermediates bolted on. After an installation laps, the Dutchman returns to the team, with team mate Alex Albon doing the same.

In the closing minutes, both Max and Albon head out on the full-wet Pirelli tyres, with Max clocking his only timed lap of the session. It grants him P7 and concludes his Friday practice.

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Results second free practice Hungary: