769a2261af8a50ad6bdf78954f827848b3e793f0

Max Verstappen "seemed to be the best of the rest behind Mercedes"

18:02, 25 Sep 2020

byGPblog.com

Although Max Verstappen did not get any further than P7 in the second free practice in Russia and was not in the top three in the first practice, Johnny Herbert thinks that Verstappen is just behind Mercedes after Friday. The Dutchman drove very consistently on the longer runs with the medium tyre.

Verstappen best of the rest

Red Bull enters the Saturday of the Russian GP-weekend with a P7 and a P12 for Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon respectively. It seems as if the team was not so strong today. However, Johnny Herbert sees things differently at Sky Sports.

"I saw at Verstappen when he drove his longer runs on the medium tyres that he was riding very consistently in the low one minute forty. He seemed best of the rest, behind the Mercedes, of course."

The McLarens didn't look bad either, according to the former F1 driver. Despite the fact that he assesses the podium chances of Verstappen well, Herbert also expects that the Dutchman won't have an easy time of it. "McLaren will make it difficult for him, but hopefully Albon will be able to get involved as well."