Debris caused damage that sidelined Verstappen in Monaco GP practice
Debris caused the radiator leak that left Max Verstappen down in sixth place in second Formula 1 practice for the Monaco Grand Prix and cost Red Bull significant track time
Having been second fastest to Lewis Hamilton in the morning session, Verstappen completed just 17 laps in the afternoon - fewer than half of the total of his main rivals.
"In the second practice when everybody of course went onto their second set we had a radiator leak," said Verstappen.
"Some debris flew into the airbox and damaged one of the radiators, so we had to replace it. But in general, it's alright."
He managed to return to the track late in the session, having taken advantage of the enforced break to try a set-up change that proved unsuccessful - which he flagged in a radio message as having cost him grip.
"That's because we did a set-up change while changing the radiator, to see if it works or not, and it didn't work. I know if we go back to the other set-up it will be alright," said Verstappen.
"They only broadcast of course the negative things at the end. Of course you try different things in practice, some work, some don't."
Verstappen remains confident that Red Bull can be the second fastest team behind the two Mercedes in qualifying, but he does not expect to be close enough to challenge the silver cars.
"I don't think we can really put the pressure on," he said. "I think if we can be third in qualifying, then we're doing good.
"Of course Mercedes is a bit too quick. We should definitely fill up the gap between second and third."
Verstappen's team-mate Pierre Gasly had a more productive afternoon session, taking fourth place.
"It was positive," said Gasly. "FP1 was a bit difficult, but then we made some changes for FP2 and I felt a lot better in the car.
"Ferrari, we're in the fight with them, Mercedes is quite a long way ahead of us but we'll have to work and see what we can extract on Saturday.
"It's just a shame we could not get more running with Max. We still have more performance to get out of the package we have on Saturday.
"I still feel we can improve the car we have a bit, but I feel really confident, we all know that it's all about qualifying and the starting position here, so hopefully we can find a few extra tenths for Saturday."
Previous article
Kubica: Monaco making Williams's issues even worse
Next article
Sainz fears losing FP1 will "hurt" later in Monaco GP weekend
Why momentum is again behind Australia’s aces
At the Italian Grand Prix Daniel Ricciardo turned around a troubled F1 season and, in F2, Oscar Piastri demonstrated once again that he is a potential star of the future. BEN EDWARDS weighs up the prospects of F1 having two Australian stars
The tough balancing act facing Schumacher’s Netflix film producers
Michael Schumacher is the latest sporting superstar to get the ‘Netflix treatment’, with a special documentary film airing on the US streaming giant’s platform this month. DAMIEN SMITH has the inside track on how the filmmakers gained access to tell the human story behind one of Formula 1’s most publicity-shy champions - while the man himself, for obvious reasons, is in absentia…
The times that suggest Verstappen should be confident of F1 Russian GP recovery
For the second race in a row, Mercedes has ended the first day of track action on top. It’s in a commanding position at the Russian Grand Prix once again – this time largely thanks to Max Verstappen’s upcoming engine-change grid penalty. But there’s plenty to suggest all hope is not lost for the championship leader at Sochi
The ‘backwards step’ that is the right move for Formula 1
OPINION: With its days apparently numbered, the MGU-H looks set to be dropped from Formula 1’s future engine rules in order to entice new manufacturers in. While it may appear a change of direction, the benefits for teams and fans could make the decision a worthwhile call
The floundering fortunes of F1’s many Lotus reboots
Team Lotus ceased to exist in 1994 - and yet various parties have been trying to resurrect the hallowed name, in increasingly unrecognisable forms, ever since. DAMIEN SMITH brings GP Racing’s history of the legendary team to an end with a look at those who sought to keep the flame alive in Formula 1
Why the 2021 title fight is far from F1's worst, despite its toxic background
OPINION: Formula 1 reconvenes for the Russian Grand Prix two weeks after the latest blow in ‘Max Verstappen vs Lewis Hamilton’. While the Silverstone and Monza incidents were controversial, they thankfully lacked one element that so far separates the 2021 title fight from the worst examples of ugly championship battles
How F1’s other champion to emerge from 1991 thrived at Lotus
Mika Hakkinen became Michael Schumacher’s biggest rival in Formula 1 in the late-90s and early 2000s, having also made his F1 debut in 1991. But as MARK GALLAGHER recalls, while Schumacher wowed the world with a car that was eminently capable, Hakkinen was fighting to make his mark with a famous team in terminal decline
The forgotten F1 comeback that began Jordan’s odyssey
Before Michael Schumacher – or anyone else – had driven the 191 (or 911 as it was initially called), Eddie Jordan turned to a fellow Irishman to test his new Formula 1 car. JOHN WATSON, a grand prix winner for Penske and McLaren, recalls his role in the birth of a legend…
