Red Bull`s advisor, Helmut Marko, has voiced significant worries regarding Max Verstappen`s long-term prospects with the team. He described their performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix as “very alarming”.
Verstappen managed to finish sixth in the race on Sunday, a better outcome than initially anticipated given the challenges faced. Throughout the event, he struggled with pit stop errors and car handling.
Despite these difficulties, Verstappen is currently only eight points behind the leading driver, Lando Norris, in the championship standings, and trails race winner Oscar Piastri by five points. However, Red Bull`s car has shown to be problematic and considerably slower than McLaren`s car in the current season.
Marko, speaking to Sky Germany after the race, stated, “The concern is great.”
He added, “As I mentioned, improvements are urgently needed to provide him with a car capable of winning again. We must establish a solid base with the car so that he can compete for the world championship.”
Verstappen`s contract with Red Bull extends until the end of the 2028 season. Marko had previously mentioned that most top drivers` contracts include performance-related clauses.
Although Verstappen secured a victory in Suzuka prior to the Bahrain race, overcoming McLarens to take pole position and win, Red Bull`s season start has been challenging overall with their new car.
Marko described their Bahrain performance as “Very alarming. We acknowledge our lack of competitiveness, and while upgrades are expected in upcoming races to hopefully bring improvements,”
“We are facing multiple issues. The primary problems are car balance and grip, which in turn, I believe, contributed to brake problems. Furthermore, routine procedures like pit stops are not functioning correctly, creating a domino effect of issues.”
He concluded, “We must quickly enhance the car`s performance and ensure operational standards, such as pit stops, are reliable. The car is not the fastest, and coupled with faulty pit stops, it`s unacceptable.”
Following the race, tensions were visible as Verstappen`s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, was seen in a heated discussion with Marko in the garage. Team principal Christian Horner, technical director Pierre Wache, chief engineer Paul Monaghan, and Marko also engaged in discussions in the paddock.
Horner acknowledged, “It was a bad weekend for the team. From the race`s start, nothing went smoothly,”
“Our start wasn`t clean, pit stops were problematic, and tyre temperatures soared. A well-balanced car simplifies everything.”
“However, it`s a 24-race championship. We are currently eight points behind in the Drivers` Championship and urgently need to improve.”
“Securing maximum points possible in a challenging car was crucial. Ultimately, it`s the cumulative points at the season`s end that matter.”
Verstappen commented on tyre management, “We are currently struggling with tyre management. The car`s balance isn`t optimal for my preferences, and tracks like Bahrain highlight these issues.”
“Tyre degradation might be generally less in Jeddah [Saudi Arabia], but if tyre management is a weakness, it`s a weakness everywhere. While the track layout might offer some assistance, tyre management remains a consistent factor. Weakness in this area will impact us across all races.”
Marcus Prine