Verstappen ends session with a positive message for Red Bull and fans
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Max Verstappen ended the session with a positive message to Red Bull after the team made some changes to his car in FP3. This came after some frustrated messages during the third free practice session. At one point, Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Perez were the slowest two drivers. The Dutchman recovered to a P5 finish.
On the medium tyre, Verstappen complained bitterly about the RB20 earlier in the session. "It's only getting worse. The car is undriveable," Verstappen expressed his frustration over the team radio. GP asked Verstappen to continue driving to collect data, but not much later Verstappen raised the alarm again: "This is... I can't drive it. I'm going to crash. My left front [tyre] is completely f***ed." After this message, Verstappen was called to the pits where the team made changes to the car.
Satisfied Max Verstappen
After those changes, Verstappen returned to the circuit where he felt much better. He responded positively. "Grip felt miles better, much better," concluded Verstappen over the team radio after his final fast run in FP3. The Dutchman had done a qualifying simulation that clearly felt better. But Verstappen still finished half a second behind the fastest driver, George Russell.
Verstappen started dropping down the order, but a red flag caused by Lance Stroll's broken Aston Martin meant he retained fifth place. Some of his rivals did not do a final fast lap ahead of qualifying in Las Vegas.
This article has been created in collaboration with Tim Kraaij