The question mentioned above circulated extensively through the Formula 1 paddock in 2023. Despite their overwhelming dominance, Red Bull failed to secure victory in every race, with Singapore slipping through their fingers and Carlos Sainz emerging as the winner.
Fast forward to 2024, and despite initial indications that Red Bull and Verstappen would reign supreme once again, the answer to the same question became clear from the start. The three-time F1 champion retired on the second lap of the race in Australia due to a right rear brake failure, giving Sainz another opportunity to capitalize on Red Bull’s misfortune and claim victory.
After the race last Sunday, Marko spoke to the press and stated: “We are aware of what happened, but we are uncertain about the reason for the brake failure. The brake got stuck on the first lap, almost causing Max to lose control of the car. Subsequently, it locked completely.”
When asked if the end of their winning streak was inevitable, Marko replied: “Undoubtedly, because I believe he could have won the race. However, we will remain optimistic. The question you asked about winning every race is no longer relevant. Therefore, we no longer face that dilemma.”
Red Bull had a strong start to the 2024 F1 season, achieving two consecutive one-two finishes in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, with Verstappen leading the way. Despite Verstappen’s retirement in Melbourne and Sergio Perez finishing fifth, Red Bull currently leads the F1 Constructors’ Championship, albeit by just four points, ahead of Ferrari. Verstappen also holds a four-point advantage over Charles Leclerc in the Drivers’ Standings.
Marko commented on the championship race, stating: “At the moment, it’s much more open. However, we faced some issues throughout the weekend, which I hope are specific to this circuit. We faced similar problems in Singapore last year. So, I am confident that Max will return to Suzuka with full motivation and show his dominance on a track suitable for drivers.”
Regarding Perez’s performance in the race, he struggled to keep up with the McLarens and Ferraris ahead. Team principal Christian Horner revealed that the Mexican driver had damage to the floor, which hindered his progress. Marko also acknowledged that the team had experimented with the RB20 #11 setup, suggesting that this may have contributed to Perez’s difficulties. He stated: “Sergio’s speed was highly disappointing. Although he is not two seconds slower than the leading drivers, there must be an issue with the setup. We made some experimental adjustments yesterday, and it’s possible that, especially in his car, we went in the wrong direction. However, Max assured me that he was not worried and could easily keep up with Sainz despite the brake issue.”
