Helmut Marko revealed {that a} “large drawback” led to Max Verstappen’s disappointing qualifying session within the Bahrain desert Saturday night time. The Dutchman may solely safe P7, and can begin tomorrow’s grand prix only one place behind his championship rival Lando Norris.
“It was worse than anticipated as a result of we modified just a few issues on the automobile which we thought can be an enchancment, then rapidly we had this brake drawback,” Marko advised reporters after the session. “It was a large drawback, they might see it on the info, however we don’t know the place it got here from.”
The Pink Bull racing advisor mentioned that Yuki Tsunoda, who completed P10, didn’t endure any issues. “It was solely Max’s automobile,” he defined.
Viewers heard Verstappen complaining on the staff radio about his “horrible” brakes, nonetheless Marko mentioned the braking problem had “nothing to do” with the automobile’s new set-up. “It was not a easy qualifying, however each vehicles have been within the prime 10, in order that was a superb achievement,” he continued. “And with out the braking issues, it could have been P3 or P4.”
Yuki Tsunoda, Pink Bull Racing, Helmut Marko, Pink Bull Racing
Picture by: Mark Thompson – Getty Photographs
In the meantime, Marko praised Tsunoda’s Q3 efficiency, noting that the Japanese driver has been “stepping into the appropriate route” since his promotion to Pink Bull final weekend. “His first lap was deleted [for track limits] and he nonetheless did not lose his nerves, he stayed calm, and he was enhancing constantly,” he mentioned. “That is what we’re anticipating from him.”
The Austrian additionally praised rookie Isack Hadjar’s “very aggressive” efficiency within the RB. “Factors are nonetheless potential,” he mentioned of the 20-year-old Frenchman, who will begin from P12 tomorrow. As for Liam Lawson, who was unceremoniously changed by Tsunoda final week, Marko mentioned he was “slowly coming in control.” He curtly added: “Usually that’s OK.”
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Emily Selleck
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Max Verstappen
Pink Bull Racing
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