Red Bull Racing Faces Setback with Verstappen’s Qualifying Woes
In a shocking turn of events, Red Bull Racing faced a major setback during the qualifying session in Bahrain as Max Verstappen could only manage a disappointing P7 on the grid. Team advisor Helmut Marko revealed that a “massive problem” plagued Verstappen’s performance, leaving the Dutch driver in a less-than-ideal starting position for tomorrow’s grand prix.
Marko expressed his frustration, stating, “It was worse than expected because we changed a few things on the car which we thought would be an improvement, then all of a sudden we had this brake problem.” The issue seemed to catch the team off guard, with Marko adding, “It was a massive problem, they could see it on the data, but we don’t know where it came from.”
Despite the setback, Marko clarified that the braking issue was not related to the car’s new set-up, indicating a specific problem with Verstappen’s vehicle. He acknowledged that without the problems, Verstappen could have secured a much higher position on the grid, possibly P3 or P4.
While Verstappen struggled, his teammate Yuki Tsunoda delivered a solid performance, finishing in P10 without any major issues. Marko praised Tsunoda’s resilience, noting his continuous improvement since joining Red Bull Racing. The Japanese driver’s ability to stay calm and focused during setbacks impressed the team advisor.
Additionally, Marko highlighted rookie Isack Hadjar’s impressive showing, hinting that points are still within reach for the young Frenchman starting from P12. Regarding Liam Lawson, who was recently replaced by Tsunoda, Marko mentioned that he is gradually adapting to the changes within the team.
The qualifying session in Bahrain proved to be a mix of highs and lows for Red Bull Racing, with Verstappen’s unexpected struggles overshadowing Tsunoda and Hadjar’s promising performances. As the team prepares for the grand prix, all eyes will be on Verstappen to see if he can overcome the challenges and make a strong comeback on race day.
