Verstappen Struggles in Las Vegas Practice Session

Max Verstappen encountered a challenging first day of practice at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, describing the driving experience as akin to navigating "on ice" due to a significant lack of grip. The RB team is contending with an excessively draggy rear wing that has hindered their performance, leaving Verstappen at the bottom of the timesheet in 17th place by the end of FP2. This particular wing configuration is underperforming on straight-line speed, registering 7 km/h slower than competitors like Mercedes and McLaren.

Despite their efforts to address the issues, the team has limited options for improvement on the rear wing and is concerned about its impact on one lap pace and tyre degradation during long runs. Verstappen has highlighted the team's ongoing struggle with tyre wear, which adds another layer of complexity as they prepare for the race. With a smaller rear wing seen on rival teams, the clock ticks down, and the team faces challenges in making timely adjustments before race day.