Mercedes has come out of the blocks at Portimao with a slightly “stronger” car, Max Verstappen has admitted. “The Mercedes generally looks a bit easier to drive and Lewis did not have a top lap. “It’s a bit like last year, when Mercedes was also stronger,” Verstappen added. Verstappen admits he does not enjoy driving his Red Bull on the now notoriously slippery Portimao circuit. “And the tyres are reacting very differently from the first two races of the year. “We just have to get through this weekend and then we can go back to a normal circuit,” he added.

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