Verstappen seeks "straightforward" Imola amid weather concerns

Max Verstappen is hopeful Red Bull can enjoy a more "straightforward weekend" after reliability issues have plagued the opening races of the year.

Red Bull has just a 50 per cent finishing record so far this season with Max Verstappen retiring twice and Sergio Perez once.

This record has left Red Bull third in the drivers' standings with Verstappen only sixth in the drivers' battle and 46 points off leader Charles Leclerc ahead of this weekend's Imola race.

"I’m looking forward to racing again this weekend in Imola, this is obviously the first sprint race of the year so it’s important to make the most of the first practice session, so we have a good understanding of where the set up needs to be for qualifying on Friday," said Verstappen.

"The team trackside and back at the factory in Milton Keynes are working incredibly hard.

"Hopefully we’ll have a straightforward weekend and we can score some good points as a team. For now, we’ll take it race by race and we’ll see where we end up."

Imola weather to play a key role

After securing his first podium of the season with a second-place finish in Australia, Sergio Perez moved five points clear of his Red Bull team-mate Verstappen.

The Mexican suffered a torrid weekend at Imola last year in wet conditions and with mixed weather again forecast for the coming weekend, Perez is determined to make use of the lessons learned.

"We go back to the sprint format this weekend and I will be aiming to pick up the most points possible," said Perez.

"That all comes from a good qualifying performance on Friday, and I hope to hook it up again in Italy.

"It looks like it could rain this weekend so that will play a part and I want to learn from the performance I had in Imola in the wet last season and continue to improve in all areas."

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