Horner downplays FP1 results but reveals major doubts ahead of Imola GP

Neither Max Verstappen in P7 or Yuki Tsunoda in P16 were overly happy with their RB21. Whilst the Dutchman was vocal in his negative feedback of his car to the team, Horner was quick to downplay the Austrians' grey outing for the first practice session in Imola.

Sky Sports quoted the British team principal: "The track was evolving pretty quickly. We didn't get clean laps or a proper lap in on those second set of tyres."

Nevertheless, that Verstappen was unhappy was evident from the several moments he had whilst in command of his RB21 as well, not just from his radio exchange with race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase.

By looking at the standings, it would make sense to say that Verstappen is currently in the championship fight. However, if one looks at the way the races panned out, the outlook is less optimistic than that.

For Imola Red Bull have implemente a series of "solutions" as Horner called them, in a bid to try and close the gap to McLaren, something Dr. Helmut Marko, the team's chief advisori quickly discarded that it would happen this race weekend in Italy.

Horner, shares the sentiment of the Austrian advisor. "To beat the McLarens here would be an incredible result but that will be very hard."