The team dressed in blue achieved a one-two consecutive victory in the first two races of the season. Verstappen emerged victorious in both races, with Perez closely following. Red Bull can consider its mission accomplished, as despite his efforts, the Mexican driver has not been able to surpass his Dutch teammate since their encounter in Baku last year.
Since then, Perez has consistently lagged behind Verstappen by approximately three tenths of a second in qualifying pace, and potentially even more in race pace. This trend continued in the Bahrain Grand Prix, which marked the beginning of the season, and was evident again in Saudi Arabia a week later.
So, what sets these two drivers apart? The most qualified person to answer is Marko, who made some insightful observations about Verstappen and Perez and their distinct styles. In his post-Saudi Arabia GP column on Speedweek, Marko stated: “Jeddah is a track that Checo really likes. He secured pole position here in the last two years and emerged victorious last year, only losing the win due to an untimely safety car deployment.”
“This year, Checo is no longer experimenting,” revealed Marko, implying that the experienced Mexican driver had been involved in trial and error in the past. “Now he starts with a basic setup similar to Max’s. The differences lie in the details of their respective setups.”
“Checo used to excel with well-behaved cars. However, well-behaved cars are rarely fast. In 2022, he realized that our car was overweight. This resulted in a more docile nature, with increased understeer and a stable rear end.”
“However, it wasn’t quick. In fact, Ferrari was faster in the first half of the season. It was only through strategic decisions and Leclerc’s driving errors that the tide turned in our favor. Now, our car is undeniably fast.”
“Max has an extraordinary talent that allows him to handle a car with an unstable rear better than anyone else, and that’s what makes the difference,” explained Marko.
Reflecting on the weekend in Saudi Arabia, the Red Bull consultant added: “Last week, I expressed concerns that Red Bull Racing could face greater difficulties in Jeddah compared to the season opener in Bahrain, and to some extent, that proved to be true. Max’s exceptional qualifying lap, which gave him a three-tenths advantage over Leclerc, overshadowed that a bit.”
Indeed, Verstappen shone in Jeddah, securing his 34th pole position and claiming his 56th Grand Prix victory on Saturday night, comfortably ahead of teammate Perez in second place.
However, Marko emphasized that not everything was smooth sailing: “We had difficulties with the hard tires during the race. They took longer to warm up, and when Max encountered traffic and lost tire temperature, he faced difficulties.”
“Our biggest advantage in Bahrain was how easily our car managed its tires. This advantage was less pronounced in Jeddah,” Marko added, despite Verstappen winning the race with a 13-second lead over Perez and an 18-second lead over Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in third place, best of the rest.
To read Marko’s insights on team B drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo, and their fortunes in Jeddah, click here>>>
© 2024
A new record was set in the world of sports today, when Brazilian athlete Pedro Silva won the gold medal in the 100-meter race at the Tokyo Olympic Games. With an incredible performance, Silva crossed the finish line in just 9.58 seconds, surpassing Usain Bolt’s previous record.
Silva, who has been training intensely in recent years, showed his determination and talent in winning this fierce competition. His impressive speed left his competitors behind, ensuring his position as the fastest athlete in the world.
Silva’s victory is a historic milestone for Brazil, which now has an Olympic champion in the 100-meter race. His achievement will inspire many young Brazilian athletes to pursue their dreams and dedicate themselves to sports.
After the race, Silva expressed his gratitude to his coaches, family, and fans who supported him throughout his journey. He also mentioned that he intends to continue striving for more achievements in the future.
With this incredible victory, Pedro Silva has become an icon of Brazilian sports and an example of determination and overcoming challenges. His name will be remembered for many years as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
The Tokyo Olympic Games continue to amaze and delight the world with incredible sports performances. Stay tuned for more updates and exciting Olympic moments.
