Max Verstappen conceded after the Bahrain Grand Prix that Red Bull was “stuck” after a Bahrain Grand Prix in which the world champion said everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong.
Following a brilliant win from pole position in Japan just a week ago, Bahrain sent Red Bull crashing back to a reality in which the team was not only failing to make progress towards the front, but was having to defend from the rivals coming from behind.
Verstappen could only qualify seventh on Saturday, although there was some consolation in the fact that championship leader Lando Norris was just one place ahead of him.
The race, however, was a very different affair, and Verstappen could consider himself lucky to have crossed the finish line in sixth given his lack of pace and the problems Red Bull had with his pitstops.
In the first one, Verstappen paid the price for a malfunction in Red Bull’s traffic light system, while in the second stop, the Dutch driver’s right front wheel was stuck and required three mechanics to remove it, costing him more time and making him return to the track in last position.
Marko fears Verstappen could get tired of waiting for a competitive car
Grand Prix Photo
While the pitstop issues were unusual for a team often having the fastest stops, the problems Verstappen faced while he was on track are of much greater significance for him and Red Bull.
The world champion again suffered from the balance issues that the team struggled with last year, and he complained that his tyres were overheating too much during the race compared to his rivals.
While he managed to compensate for some of the problems in Japan, his Bahrain performance highlighted issues that Red Bull is very unlikely to have quick fixes for.
“It’s just tough. You have to hang on, try to, of course, improve the situation, but we’re just a bit stuck at the moment,” said Verstappen.
The heat in Saudi Arabia next weekend will not help Red Bull’s cause, as the RB21’s problems become even more serious with high track temperatures.
Worries about Verstappen’s future
Red Bull’s dire on-track situation has led to what advisor Helmut Marko described as a “very alarming” situation that has led to fears about Verstappen’s desire to stay at the team should the problems continue long term.
A second F1 win in three grands prix has made Oscar Piastri look like the stronger McLaren driver, as Lando Norris admitted he is struggling to find answers
By
Pablo Elizalde
The four-time world champion has a contract with Red Bull until 2028, but some performance-related clauses could allow him to leave before that.
“The concern is great,” Marko told Sky Germany about his worries that Verstappen could choose to leave. “Improvements have to come in the near future so that he has a car with which he can win again.
“We have to create a basis with a car so that he can fight for the world championship.”
Car updates are on the pipeline and Red Bull has also pinned some of its hopes of fighting back in the Spanish GP’s flexi-wing clampdown that will, in theory, affect McLaren‘s speed.
The Barcelona event is still five races away, however, and Bahrain showed that the Verstappen camp’s patience is already wearing thin.
