Verstappen spins twice but says RB16 is ‘faster everywhere’ after first day of testing

Max Verstappen completed an eventful first day of testing after spinning his Red Bull RB16 twice at Barcelona, but after posting the fourth-fastest lap of the day and completing a total of 168 laps on the opening day of testing, he was pleased with his day's work.

“Well, I think it’s been a good day,” he said on Wednesday afternoon at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

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“The car’s been working really well together with the engine. That’s what we want to see, for us that’s the most important thing – very happy about that. We just want to learn the car, try things about the car and look through the data and see what we can improve,” he said.

But the Dutchman was caught out at Turn 13 – spinning the car on two separate occasions – though he managed to avoid damaging his team’s new title contender.

“I touched the gravel once, that’s why I spun, and once I lost it in the second corner [of the Turn 13-14 sequence],” he explained.

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“Those things happen [when you are] trying to see the limits of the car, what you can do. That’s a part of it. Luckily, no damage, which, at the end of the day, is the most important thing.”

And his verdict on the RB16?

“The car is faster everywhere, which is a good thing, and the reliability seems even better, so that’s positive.”

After a largely error-free day, Red Bull seem to have started testing on the front foot, but there are five more days of pre-season testing before the Australian Grand Prix heralds the beginning of the season proper next month. Join F1.com for live coverage of every day as the teams hone their 2020 machines in preparation.

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