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Dissatisfied Max Verstappen speaks of a ‘bad day’ and is disappointed with Lewis Hamilton
Dissatisfied Max Verstappen speaks of a ‘bad day’ and is disappointed with Lewis Hamilton
Max Verstappen did not get further than the seventh fastest time during the second training for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, after setting the fifth fastest time in the first session in Imola. Charles Leclerc was again the fastest.
Verstappen stated at the start of the second, Friday session that his RB20 already felt a lot better than in the first training. Yet he rode ‘only’ the seventh fastest time.
Two last attempts to set a fast time on the soft tire came to nothing. After Verstappen had already been affected by traffic during attempt one, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton then got in his way. Verstappen was clearly not happy with that and made this known in words and gestures. Hamilton immediately apologized and said to his engineer over the on-board radio that he would have liked to have received a warning that Verstappen was approaching him. Leclerc and Verstappen’s teammate Pérez also had a fight later in the session following a similar incident.
Verstappen: ‘So it happened again’
“That is not the first time that this has happened,” Verstappen said at the time with Hamilton. “You always try to remain calm, but it happened again. At the same time, I don’t want to talk about it too much because that wasn’t our problem today. We didn’t have the speed and we have to solve that. It was difficult to find the right balance, I didn’t feel comfortable in the car and it was very easy to ‘lose’ the car. Today was just bad. There are really things we need to improve to be competitive tomorrow.”
Ferrari driver Leclerc lapped in 1.15.906, making him just under two-tenths of a second faster than Oscar Piastri (McLaren). Behind this followed the surprising Yuki Tsunoda, Hamilton, George Russell, Carlos Sainz and only then Pérez. Verstappen was half a second slower than Leclerc in that fastest lap, Pérez added an extra tenth.
Racing simulation also did not go entirely according to Max Verstappen’s plan
In the final phase, the drivers all focused on the long run with a view to Sunday’s race. That race simulation also did not go entirely according to plan for Verstappen, who shot straight again. Although the lap times of almost all drivers fluctuated back and forth during those long runs.
“The long run was also very bad,” Verstappen was clear. “Do I have confidence that things will get better tomorrow? It can hardly be worse than today. It seems that others have taken a step forward and for us it was not a good day.”
Verstappen also searching during the opening session in Imola
Verstappen was also dissatisfied during the first free practice, earlier in the day. He expressed his dissatisfaction over the on-board radio. The three-time world champion did not get further than fifth place in the opening session.
Apart from the Racing Bulls, all teams brought quite a few updates to Imola, which were extensively tested during the first session of the weekend.
Although Verstappen drove the fastest times in the first and third sectors, he lost a lot of time in the middle part. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) was ultimately fastest for the Italian public: 1.16.990.
Sergio Perez and Verstappen more than two tenths slower than Leclerc
Mercedes driver George Russell conceded a tenth to Leclerc’s time at the beginning of the afternoon, followed shortly afterwards by his teammate Carlos Sainz. Red Bull drivers Sergio Pérez and Verstappen were more than two-tenths slower than Leclerc.
With about six minutes left on the clock, Verstappen was making an improvement, but he shot straight ahead. That happened again in the final minute, without serious consequences. He was therefore unable to complete an ideal lap at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. Red Bull has also introduced a major update in Imola, just like Ferrari and Mercedes. McLaren already did that two weeks ago in Miami. The winner there, Lando Norris, rode the eighth fastest time during the first training.
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Lewis Hamilton has opted not to make his Ferrari debut during the post-Abu Dhabi Grand Prix test, telling future boss Frederic Vasseur he wasn’t eager to jump into the red car so soon.
While Carlos Sainz, whom Hamilton will replace at Ferrari in 2025, will test for his new team Williams after the Abu Dhabi season finale, Hamilton will be focusing on pre-arranged commitments with Mercedes.
“I don’t want to block him,” Vasseur said, referring to Sainz.
As for Hamilton, Vasseur explained that Ferrari did not pursue the matter with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, citing contractual obligations. “They have a contract, so I didn’t even ask Toto,” Vasseur said.
Hamilton admitted in Qatar that missing the test could leave him slightly disadvantaged when he begins his Ferrari tenure.
“It will definitely slow down the process and make the start of next year more difficult, but we will do everything we can to make up for it,” he said.
The seven-time world champion also shared his personal reasons for skipping the test.
“I know that Fred wanted me to do the test, but I was in two minds,” Hamilton explained. “The idea of getting behind the wheel of a red car for the first time in Abu Dhabi did not excite me too much. In an ideal world, I would like the first runs to be done without much scrutiny.
“Toto and the team had planned ahead for me to meet some sponsors and say goodbye to them, so I don’t think I would have been allowed to take part in the tests even if I had asked,” he added.
Hamilton revealed that he had informed Vasseur of his feelings well in advance. “I have a contract with Mercedes until December 31, and it is not a problem for me because I told Fred in advance that I didn’t really want to do it.”
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All Hendrick Motorsports drivers won Cup Series races this year. Kyle Larson stood out with the maximum, clinching 6 race victories. However, his teammate holds the bragging rights to achieving more than just race trophies. Chase Elliott went from a despicable season in 2023, where he injured himself and got himself suspended to snapping a 42-race winless streak. At the end of the year, he can pose with more than just race wins, having picked up the Most Popular Driver title.
Elliott brought a guest to the NASCAR Awards banquet – a blonde woman with striking blue eyes. Her presence confirmed the active status of our Hendrick Motorsports star’s dating life. His newly ordained better half recently poured her heartfelt wishes as Elliott turned 29th.
Ever since Chase Elliott failed to crack the playoffs last year, he has been on a mission. His snowboarding injury and race suspensions lent him the fury of a man redeeming himself. So this year during the April Texas race, Elliott edged out Ross Chastain on the second restart in overtime to win. Although his victories ceased after that, Elliott put up a consistent performance – clinching 11 top-fives and 19 top-tens. In spite of his dismissal from the Round of 8, Chase defended his Most Popular Driver status, winning the award for the 7th time.
To accompany him in receiving this honor was Ashley Stephenson, twinning with her new boyfriend in all-black attire. The talented hair stylist and lifestyle vlogger publicly posted a photo with Elliott at the Awards ceremony. Similarly, Anderson proudly uploaded a story on Instagram to celebrate Chase Elliott’s 29th birthday on 28th November. She proclaimed her love as she wrote, “Happiest birthday, Bubs!” She added her heartfelt 3-word message for Elliott: “Thankful for you,” and followed it up with affectionate emojis.
Not much is known about Stephenson and Elliott’s dating life. Both of them hail from Dawsonville, Georgia, and have reportedly been friends for a long time. According to rumors in the NASCAR world, Stephenson and Chase Elliott began dating each other after the Hendrick star split up with his ex-girlfriend, Kaylie Green. Stephenson works as a hairstylist and lifestyle vlogger in Dawsonville, often posting her work on Instagram. They have made multiple appearances on the racetrack together, and Ashley’s oldest picture with Chase on her profile dates back to mid-2020. Her appearance at the NASCAR Awards ceremony was their first public appearance together after a long while. She also shares a relationship with Ryan Blaney’s fiancee Gianna Tulio.
Dale Earnhardt Jr’s First Sighting in Infamous Firesuit Has NASCAR Fans Losing Their Minds.
After 17 long years, Dale Earnhardt Jr finally reclaims his legacy. The 26-time Cup race-winning veteran will sport those bright red colors on a racetrack once again. His estranged stepmother, Teresa Earnhardt, offered an olive branch this year in June, allowing Junior to buy the trademark for the No. 8. She retained rights over the long-lost Dale Earnhardt Inc. team. But the update means one thing – Junior fans can relive a nostalgic dream!
The podcast host and JR Motorsports owner is already creating a flutter with a wardrobe drop. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s loyal army of fans will see a spectacle at Florence Motor Speedway on November 23rd. A fiery red firesuit embroidered with Budweiser’s famous logo is all that the NASCAR community is drooling over right now.
That Memory Lane was a long 2000-2007 journey, sprinkled with colorful victories. Starting from the 2000 DirecTV 500 win in Texas and ending with the 2006 Crown Royal 400 win in Richmond, Dale Earnhardt Jr collected 17 victories for Dale Earnhardt Inc. What stood out was his iconic bright red Budweiser fire suit that clung to the icon’s tired body during every Victory Lane celebration. From 2007, Dale Jr shifted to Hendrick Motorsports, as his stepmother tightened her control over DEI and the No. 8 logo. 17 years later, that scenario has finally changed.
Ahead of the upcoming spectacle in the South Carolina 400 race at Florence, Dale Earnhardt Jr dropped a teaser. A NASCAR fan shared a picture of modern-day Dale Jr smiling his heart out in the legendary ruby-red firesuit, holding a Budweiser beer can. The post caption encapsulated the soaring emotions of numerous fans’ hearts: “If you ever wanted to see present day @DaleJr in a Budweiser firesuit, here ya go.” Being under lock and key for so long, the famous logo will feature where it rightfully belongs – on the firesuit and car of Dale Jr, under his team JR Motorsports.
Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Florence entry will also mark the “Bud King of Beers” paint scheme’s first time on the track in 17 years. “It is an incredible opportunity for me to be able to reunite with Budweiser, and the No. 8,” Earnhardt, 50, said of the ride he made famous from 1999 to 2007. “Budweiser and I had some great memories with that iconic scheme and number. We’ve always supported each other over the years. It’s going to be really special for me to be able to represent that brand on the racetrack again.”
After all, Dale Earnhardt Jr has several precious memories in this firesuit. Less than four months after his father, the Intimidator, passed away in Daytona, Dale Jr roared back to win on the same track. Leading 116 of 200 laps, he won the Pepsi 400, and the pit crew, competitors, and fans all roared when he climbed out of his car in Victory Lane. Now that the same victory outfit is back in business, fans are ecstatic for more memories. One fan wrote, “Seeing him in a bud suit…nature has healed just a tiny bit more. The way I miss the old days though…” Another fan heaved a sigh of relief that we would be able to relive the golden era of NASCAR again. “All is right in the world,” they wrote.
Dale Earnhardt Jr holds the classic No. 8 close to his heart – given the numerous tracks he conquered wearing it. For instance, he won four of six Talladega races wearing Budweiser’s suit, the best memory coming in April 2002 when he led 133 laps. So the veteran sports an infectious smile while wearing that glorious suit today – enough to mesmerize fans. “Junior’s enthusiasm for everything NASCAR really is infectious. So glad he was/is my favorite driver,” somebody wrote.
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