Verstappen hits out at Turkey’s F1 track surface: “It can’t get any worse”

Max Verstappen has criticised Istanbul Park's new track surface by saying “it can’t get any worse” after drivers struggled for grip in Formula 1 practice for the Turkish Grand Prix.

Track conditions may have been difficult but it was a very positive day for the Dutchman, ending both practice sessions fastest of all.

Istanbul Park was resurfaced two weeks ago as F1 makes its return to Turkey for the first time since 2011. 

Verstappen believes the track surface in Turkey is much worse than it was at Portimao, which also had a new surface laid ahead of the Portuguese Grand Prix last month.

“Well, it can’t get any worse basically, at the start in FP1,” Verstappen said. “We’re still miles off, it’s like driving on ice. Worse than Portimao by far. At the end of the day, it’s the same for everyone so we just have to adapt to it. 

“I hope it’s not going to rain as it will be like proper driving on ice so maybe we will have to switch to spikes or something on the tyres, that would be quite interesting so let’s see.”

Part of the reason for the significant lack of grip in FP1 was due to organisers washing the track meaning it was still damp in parts.

When asked about the prospect of the track being washed again, he replied: “Let’s not do that again. I think we will talk about it [in the drivers' briefing] in general why the tarmac is so slippery. I think we’re still like five seconds off of what we should do. Like I said, same for everyone and we will deal with it.”

Alexander Albon adapted quickly having led the timesheets on several occasions throughout FP2, eventually ending the day fifth fastest overall.

Due to the difficulties in getting temperature into the tyres, Albon believes teams may be forced to simply run and run in qualifying, rather than doing one lap on each set of tyres as they would normally to get tyre temperature.

“It’s bad,” Albon added. “I don’t know what we are going to do in qualifying. I don’t know if everyone’s going to go out in the green light and we all just drive around on softs the whole session with a flood of fuel in to do a race run. That’s what it feels like everybody is going to be doing.”