Max Verstappen issues alarming concern: 'I just started laughing'

Max Verstappen has issued an alarming concern ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix, admitting that he "just started laughing" at how bad the energy management was.

Following an impressive podium at the Austrian Grand Prix, Red Bull moves from one home race to another in pursuit of back-to-back strong results.

Verstappen challenged Mercedes at the Red Bull Ring and finished second, although he would likely have been a greater threat for victory had he not crashed in the final moments of qualifying.

Nevertheless, Red Bull's upgrades delivered a significant boost to the RB22, raising questions over whether the Dutchman can now fight at the front on a regular basis.

The first test of that will be Silverstone, just up the road from Red Bull's Milton Keynes base, making it a home event for the factory.

Silverstone is one of the fastest circuits on the calendar and features minimal heavy braking, making energy recovery a significant challenge.

Verstappen already has major concerns over recharging the battery this weekend, based on his experience of just a few laps in the simulator.

Asked if Red Bull can now fight everywhere, Verstappen responded: "Let’s take it race by race. Silverstone, I love the track, but I did a few laps on the simulator, I just started laughing. 

"It felt like a different track, to be honest. You barely have battery around the lap. It’s just constantly flat. 

"So yes, it’s going to feel very different compared to what we are used to around Silverstone, because of the layout of the track. Here you have long straights and big braking zones, so you can charge the battery. 

"There you have long straights but in a fast corner, for example, so you can’t really charge the batteries, and then the next straight you don’t have a lot to spend. It’s going to be a tough one."