Max Verstappen secured a comfortable victory in Jeddah after clinching pole position ahead of Charles Leclerc. The Formula 1 driver, along with Red Bull Racing, has been a dominant force in the sport over the past two years. Verstappen’s strong performance in the first two races of the 2024 season has made him the favorite for the F1 title. However, the team may face a tough challenge from Ferrari in the upcoming races. Dr. Helmut Marko, a key figure at Red Bull Racing, expressed his concerns after Verstappen’s pole lap in Jeddah.
Marko anticipated a challenging weekend for Red Bull in Saudi Arabia, despite the successful one-two finish in Bahrain. His fears were confirmed when Verstappen clinched pole position. The octogenarian acknowledged that the lap revealed some issues for the team, despite finishing three tenths ahead of their rivals. Marko had previously suggested that Ferrari could close the gap to Red Bull throughout the season, which could pose a threat to Verstappen and his team.
During the race, Verstappen struggled with old and slippery tires in the final stages. However, his significant lead over the rest of the grid allowed him to comfortably secure his second win of the season. The Dutch driver made an impressive start in the Saudi Arabian GP, quickly gaining a one-second advantage after the first lap. However, Marko admitted that Red Bull had issues with tire temperatures during the race, especially when Verstappen encountered traffic.
According to Marko, Verstappen’s tire temperatures dropped when he was behind slower cars in Jeddah. This highlighted the team’s tire degradation issues in Saudi Arabia, despite the strength of the RB20 car in that area during the Bahrain GP. Red Bull may need to address these tire temperature problems in the coming weeks. So far, these issues have not affected Verstappen’s performance as he continues to dominate the grid. However, if Charles Leclerc and other drivers start challenging Verstappen for wins, this could become a concern for the team.
