Helmut Marko’s Shocking Revelation Rocks Red Bull Racing!
In a surprising turn of events at Silverstone, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, has come clean about a critical error that affected Max Verstappen’s performance during the first practice session for the British Grand Prix. Verstappen, the four-time world champion, faced significant challenges with his car’s setup, ultimately landing him in 10th place on the timesheets.
Marko openly admitted to a “mistake” made in configuring Verstappen’s RB21, leading to handling issues that hindered the driver’s performance on the track. Despite Verstappen’s efforts, he found himself trailing behind Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by nearly six-tenths of a second, highlighting the magnitude of the setback.
To compound Verstappen’s struggles, he was outpaced by both Racing Bulls drivers but managed to stay ahead of Arvid Lindblad, who stepped in for Yuki Tsunoda during the practice session. Marko acknowledged the team’s misstep and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation ahead of the upcoming sessions.
Describing the challenges faced by Verstappen, Marko told Sky DE, “Understeer, oversteer, and that varied from corner to corner. So there is a mistake somewhere because there are big differences, also between the long run and short run. So we have to look at what is wrong.” The seasoned advisor expressed concerns about the team’s current performance, noting that immediate corrective measures were imperative to regain competitiveness.
During the practice, Verstappen also tested an upgraded floor on his car, a modification that was exclusive to his vehicle due to time constraints. Marko confirmed this decision, stating, “Yes, because given the time constraints we were not able to make the same part for both cars.” Despite the setback, Marko praised Lindblad for his performance, highlighting the driver’s valuable feedback and strong showing during the long runs.
As Red Bull Racing grapples with the aftermath of the misstep in Verstappen’s setup, all eyes are now on the team’s response and adjustments leading into the subsequent practice sessions and the British Grand Prix. The revelation of the internal error has sent shockwaves through the racing community, raising questions about Red Bull’s ability to maintain its competitive edge in the fierce Formula 1 championship battle.
